The Penguins of Madagascar

The Penguins of Madagascar

Titlecard image used since late 2009.
Genre Animated comedy
Created by Characters:
Tom McGrath
Eric Darnell
Directed by Bret Haaland
Nick Filippi
Starring Tom McGrath
Jeff Bennett
James Patrick Stuart
John DiMaggio
Danny Jacobs
Kevin Michael Richardson
Andy Richter
Nicole Sullivan
Conrad Vernon
Mary Scheer
Tara Strong[1]
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 2
No. of episodes 109 (aired), 9 (unaired)
(List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Mark McCorkle
Bob Schooley[2]
Running time Approx. 11 minutes (11-minute episodes; 5 specials)
Production company(s) DreamWorks Animation
Nickelodeon Productions
Distributor DreamWorks Television
Broadcast
Original channel Nickelodeon
Picture format 480i (SDTV)
1080i (HDTV)
First shown in United States
Original run November 29, 2008 (2008-11-29) – present
Chronology
Preceded by Madagascar (2005)
The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper (2005)
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008)
Followed by Merry Madagascar (2009)
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012)
External links
Website

The Penguins of Madagascar is an American CGI animated television series airing on Nickelodeon. It stars nine characters from the DreamWorks Animation animated film Madagascar: The penguins Skipper (Tom McGrath), Kowalski (Jeff Bennett), Private (James Patrick Stuart), and Rico (John DiMaggio); the lemurs King Julien (Danny Jacobs), Maurice (Kevin Michael Richardson), and Mort (Andy Richter); and Mason (Conrad Vernon) and Phil the chimpanzees. Characters new to the series include Marlene the otter (Nicole Sullivan) and a zookeeper named Alice (Mary Scheer).

A pilot episode, "Gone in a Flash", aired as part of "Superstuffed Nicktoons Weekend" on November 29, 2008 before a new episode of SpongeBob SquarePants, and The Penguins of Madagascar became a regular series on March 28, 2009. The series takes place after the events of Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (with elements from the Penguins' Christmas Caper intact; noticeably, Rico's scar and Mohawk). This is the first Nicktoon produced with DreamWorks Animation. The series premiere drew 6.1 million viewers, setting a new record as the most-watched premiere.[3][4] The show finished 2010 as the number two animated program on television among kids age 2–11 and in basic cable total viewers, with only SpongeBob SquarePants ahead in the ratings.[5]

Contents

Plot

The Penguins of Madagascar is a spin-off of the Madagascar films. The series follows the adventures of the four penguin protagonists: Skipper, Kowalski, Rico, and Private, who perform various paramilitary-like missions to protect their home in the Central Park Zoo. The penguins often have to deal with problems caused, or made worse, by King Julien XIII (a ring-tailed lemur), Maurice (an aye-aye), and Mort (a mouse lemur).

It is not known how the penguins and lemurs arrived at the zoo after their adventures in both Madagascar films, although the penguins and chimpanzees are seen flying away in a plane at the end of Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. During the show's opening title, the penguins are also seen opening a crate that reads "Madagascar" and contains the three lemur characters.

Characters

The Penguins of Madagascar features the four penguin characters from the Madagascar franchise, the two chimpanzees, as well as the three lemur characters. Characters new to the franchise include Marlene the otter and Alice the zookeeper.

Main characters

Secondary characters

Episodes

Season Episodes Originally aired (U.S. dates)
Season premiere Season finale
1 48 November 29, 2008[8] February 15, 2010
2 61 March 13, 2010 TBA
Unaired 9 N/A N/A

In addition to episodes that have aired, a number of other episodes have been produced. Some of these were scheduled for broadcast but never aired, while others are yet to be placed on Nickelodeon's U.S. schedule. In the past, some episodes were first released on DVD before being aired on TV. The first such episode was "Popcorn Panic", which was originally released on DVD but eventually aired on May 9, 2009.

Production

In mid 2006, Nickelodeon and DreamWorks Animation announced that they would collaborate to create a Nicktoon based on the Madagascar films. The new series would star the penguins from the film series. Nothing was confirmed on what the series would be about until November 2007.

At first, in November 2007, Nickelodeon advertised a sneak peek of three new Nicktoons coming to Nickelodeon, The Mighty B!, Making Fiends, and The Penguins of Madagascar all on November 25, 2007 part of Superstuffed Nicktoons Weekend. Then, in December 2007, Nickelodeon advertised many events that were going to premiere in 2008 (The Mighty B!, Fairly OddBaby, The Penguins of Madagascar, KCA 2008, Sidekicks, and "Pest of the West").[9] Since then, The Penguins of Madagascar was delayed at least twice in 2008, and saw a debut in March 2009, most likely due to Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa being delayed to November 7, 2008. On November 28, 2008, Nickelodeon aired an episode from the series as a sneak peek. The Double DVD Pack of Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa includes an early DVD of the show.

Casting

Some of the voice actors who voiced the characters in the films were unable to reprise their roles for the series. Chris Miller, who had voiced Kowalski, was replaced by Jeff Bennett, while Christopher Knights was replaced by James Patrick Stuart for the voice of Private. Danny Jacobs took over from Sacha Baron Cohen as the voice of King Julien, and Cedric the Entertainer's character, Maurice, is now voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson. Tom McGrath, John DiMaggio and Andy Richter reprised their roles of Skipper, Rico and Mort for the TV series, respectively. Other characters are voiced by the same actors who had voiced them in the films, while some characters, like Marlene and Alice the zookeeper, are new characters created especially for the series.

Nickelodeon debut

After some delays of the series to air, The Penguins of Madagascar debuted on Nickelodeon in 2009. The series is produced at the Nickelodeon Animation Studio in Burbank, California, with animation carried out in India,[6] New Zealand and Taiwan. Both Nickelodeon and DreamWorks Animation were planning on a 26 episode season.[2] The Penguins of Madagascar aired after the 2009 Kids' Choice Awards on March 28, 2009 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT.[10]

International release

Country / region Series premiere Network Episodes aired during premiere Source(s)
 Albania
 Serbia
January 2010 Nickelodeon Serbia
 Andorra December 2009 Super3 [11]
 Argentina
 Bolivia
 Brazil
 Chile
 Colombia
 Costa Rica
 Ecuador
 Mexico
 Paraguay
 Peru
March 2, 2009 (preview)
June 5, 2009 (official launch)
Nickelodeon Latin America Popcorn Panic, Gone in a Flash
 Australia April 18, 2009 Nickelodeon Australia
May 2011 Network Ten
 Austria
 Germany
 Switzerland
April 10, 2009 (preview)
September 12, 2009 (official launch)
Nickelodeon Germany Popcorn Panic, Gone in a Flash, Launchtime,
Haunted Habitat, Tangled in the Web, Crown Fools
 Belgium April 12, 2009 Nickelodeon Netherlands & Flanders Gone in a Flash
September 2010 Nickelodeon France & Wallonia
 Bulgaria December 2009 Nickelodeon Croatia
March 6, 2010 Nova Television
 Canada September 12, 2009 YTV/ Nickelodeon Canada [12]
 Croatia
 Montenegro
December 2009 Nickelodeon Croatia
 Czech Republic
 Malta
 Moldova
 Romania
 Slovakia
February 2010 Nickelodeon (Central & Eastern Europe)
 France September 2010 Nickelodeon France & Wallonia
 Greece September 3, 2010 Nickelodeon Greece
 Hong Kong
 Malaysia
 Philippines
 Singapore
September 10, 2009[12] Nickelodeon Southeast Asia Launchtime, Haunted Habitat
 Hungary September 2011 Comedy Central Hungary
February 2010 Nickelodeon (Central & Eastern Europe)
 Indonesia May 15, 2010 Nickelodeon Indonesia
Global TV
 Ireland
 United Kingdom
April 12, 2009 Nickelodeon UK and Ireland
CITV
RTÉ Two
 Israel February 28, 2010 Nickelodeon Israel
 Italy November 2009 Italia 1/Nickelodeon Italy
 Japan April 4, 2010 NHK Educational TV
 Lithuania August 2010 TV3
 Netherlands April 12, 2009 Nickelodeon Netherlands & Flanders Gone in a Flash
 New Zealand April 18, 2009 Nickelodeon New Zealand Popcorn Panic, Gone in a Flash
 Nigeria
 South Africa
June 2010 Nickelodeon
 Poland April 15, 2009 Nickelodeon Poland
 Portugal October 2009 Nickelodeon Portugal
 Russia October 4, 2010 2×2
 South Korea April 10, 2009 Nickelodeon South Korea Popcorn Panic
 Spain October 2009 Nickelodeon Spain
 Thailand August 2010 BBTV Channel 7
 Turkey April 4, 2010
February 6, 2010
Nickelodeon Turkey
CNBC-e
 United States November 29, 2008 ("sneak peek") Nickelodeon Gone in a Flash [8]
March 28, 2009 (official launch) Launchtime, Haunted Habitat N/A
 Venezuela March 2, 2009 (preview)
June 5, 2009 (official launch)
Nickelodeon Latin America Popcorn Panic, Gone in a Flash
December 2011 Venevision

Critical reception

The Penguins of Madagascar has been given mixed to positive critical reviews. Mary McNamara of the Los Angeles Times gave the show a favorable review. She said that the show had strong comedic timing and action scenes, saying that it recalled both Wile E. Coyote cartoons and 1940s gangster movies.[13] Tim Goodman's review in the San Francisco Chronicle is also favorable. He said that he considered the penguins and Julien as having the most comedic potential from the movies, with his review focusing on the voice actors' comedic timing, and said that the show also contained several jokes which would make it appealing to adults.[14]

Brian Lowry of Variety described the show as "loud, exuberant and colorful" and praised its animation quality, but he did not think that it was funny and said that the show seemed more like a "merchandising bonanza".[15]

Awards and recognition

Year Association Category Nominee Result
2009 Artios Awards Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Animation TV Programming Sarah Noonan, Meredith Layne Nominated
BAFTA[16] International children’s programming Won
Golden Reel Awards[17] Best Sound Editing: Television Animation Episode: "Gone in a Flash" Nominated
2010 Annie Awards[18] Best Animated Television Production for Children Won
Directing in a Television Production Bret Haaland (for "Launchtime") Won
BAFTA[19] international children’s programming Won
Daytime Emmy Awards[20][21][22] Outstanding Special Class Animated Program Bob Schooley, Mark McCorkle, Bret Haaland, Dina Buteyn, Dean Hoff
Tied with SpongeBob SquarePants
Won
Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition Adam Berry Nominated
Outstanding Writing in Animation Brandon Sawyer, Bill Motz, Bob Roth, Eddie Guzelian, Bob Schooley, Mark McCorkle Nominated
Golden Reel Awards[23] Best Sound Editing: Television Animation Episode: "What Goes Around" Won
Kids' Choice Awards[24] Favorite Cartoon Nominated
2011 Golden Reel Awards[25] Best Sound Editing: Sound Effects, Foley, Dialogue and ADR Animation in Television Episode: "The Lost Treasure of the Golden Squirrel" Won
Daytime Emmy Awards[26][27] Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition Adam Berry Won
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing James Lifton, Paulette Lifton, Dominick Certo, Ian Nyeste, Matt Hall, Lawrence Reyes Won
Outstanding Casting for an Animated Series Meredith Layne Won
Outstanding Children's Animated Program Bob Schooley, Mark McCorkle, Bret Haaland, Chris Neuhahn, Dean Hoff, Dina Buteyn Won
Outstanding Direction in an Animated Program Nick Filippi, Christo Stamboliev, Dave Knott, Lisa Schaffer Nominated
Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program Danny Jacobs (for "King Julien") Won
Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program Tom McGrath (for "Skipper") Nominated
Outstanding Writing in Animation Brandon Sawyer, Bill Motz, Bob Roth Won
Kids' Choice Awards[24] Favorite Cartoon Nominated

Toys

DreamWorks has licensed to a number of manufacturers, including Hooga Loo Toys, who had a successful run creating a line of plush toys associated with the second Madagascar movie. Based on its success, Hooga Loo was granted a license to create an entirely new toy line for the new series. Hooga Loo recruited the creative development team, Pangea Corporation, the company who assisted Playmates Toys in the development of the phenomenally successful Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, to work systemically with DreamWorks and develop toys inspired by and for the series.[28] The toy line included a full range of unique and funny feature plush characters, as well as clever collectible figures and wacky vehicles. Fast food restaurants courted DreamWorks to glean the rights for a QSR deal, which finally materialized in late 2009. McDonald's had produced a line of toys based on the second film. This relationship forged a new deal with McDonald's.

Licensed merchandise based on the show began debuting in January 2010.[29][30] In February 2010, McDonald’s began their “Mission: Play” Happy Meal toy campaign, which featured eight toys based on the penguins in the series.[31]

Video games

Feature film

A direct-to-video film featuring penguins had been in the works since 2005, when Madagascar film had been released, with a release date planned for 2009.[35] In March 2011, it was announced that the penguin characters would be given their own feature film,[36] to be directed by Simon J. Smith, the co-director of Bee Movie, produced by Lara Breay, and written by Alan J. Schoolcraft and Brent Simons, the writers of DreamWorks' Megamind.[37]

DVD releases

References

  1. ^ "Popcorn Panic". Tom McGrath, Jeff Glen Bennett, James Patrick Stuart, John DiMaggio, Danny Jacobs, Kevin Michael Richardson, Andy Richter, Nicole Sullivan, Mary Scheer, Tara Strong. The Penguins of Madagascar. Nickelodeon. May 9, 2009. No. 16, season 1. 11:26 minutes in.
  2. ^ a b "The Penguins of Madagascar are Coming!". ComingSoon.net. Los Angeles, CA: CraveOnline. http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=40112. Retrieved October 7, 2008. 
  3. ^ "Nickelodeon Nabs Ratings Records With Kids' Choice, 'Penguins'". tvweek.com. http://www.tvweek.com/news/2009/03/nickelodeon_nabs_ratings_recor.php. Retrieved March 30, 2009. 
  4. ^ AWN | Animation World Network (June 16, 2009). "Nick's Penguins is Basic Cable's # 1 Kids' Show with Total Viewers for the Week | AWN | Animation World Network". AWN. http://www.awn.com/news/television/nicks-penguins-basic-cables-1-kids-show-total-viewers-week. Retrieved June 10, 2010. 
  5. ^ "Nickelodeon is 2010's Top-Ranked Cable Network, Marks 16 Years as Number One". PR Newswire. December 15, 2010. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nickelodeon-is-2010s-top-ranked-cable-network-marks-16-years-as-number-one-111938584.html. Retrieved December 20, 2010. 
  6. ^ a b c Joe Strike (May 20, 2009). "Penguins of Madagascar Strike Back". Animation World Magazine. http://mag.awn.com/index.php?article_no=3986. Retrieved October 28, 2010. 
  7. ^ "Marlene from Penguins of Madagascar". Nickelodeon. http://www.nick.com/shows/penguins-of-madagascar/characters/marlene.html. Retrieved June 10, 2010. 
  8. ^ a b ""The Penguins of Madagascar" Gone in a Flash (2008)". Internet Movie Database. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1154807. Retrieved April 11, 2009. 
  9. ^ "The Penguins of Madagascar". movieweb.com. http://www.movieweb.com/news/NEa0vedhbtOWdc. Retrieved October 7, 2008. 
  10. ^ "The Penguins of Madagascar". Official website. Nickelodeon. http://www.nick.com/shows/penguins-of-madagascar/index.jhtml. Retrieved April 12, 2009. 
  11. ^ "Winter Preview 2009 > The Penguins of Madagascar". tv3.cat news. http://www.tv3.cat/actualitat/146879/Els-pinguins-de-Madagascar-arriben-al-Canal-Super3. 
  12. ^ a b "Fall Preview 2009 > The Penguins of Madagascar". sympatico.ca TV Guide. http://tvguide.ca/Special_Features/Fall_Premiere/Cable/Articles/090824_penguins_madagascar_DW. Retrieved October 4, 2009. 
  13. ^ McNamara, Mary (March 28, 2009). "The Penguins of Madagascar". Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/africa/la-et-penguins-of-madagascar28-2009mar28,0,4835646.story?track=rss. Retrieved April 10, 2009. 
  14. ^ Goodman, Tim (March 23, 2009). "The Penguins of Madagascar". San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/23/DDMA16KTBT.DTL. Retrieved April 10, 2009. 
  15. ^ Lowry, Brian (March 26, 2009). "The Penguins of Madagascar". Variety. http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117939941.html?categoryid=32&cs=1. Retrieved April 10, 2009. 
  16. ^ "Children's Awards Winners in 2009 - Children's - Awards - The BAFTA site". Bafta.org. http://www.bafta.org/awards/childrens/awards-2009,879,BA.html. Retrieved June 10, 2010. 
  17. ^ "2009 Golden Reel Award Nominees: Television". Motion Picture Sound Editors. http://www.mpse.org/goldenreels/2009awards/2009tvnominees.html. Retrieved August 3, 2011. 
  18. ^ "The Annie Awards". The Annie Awards. http://www.annieawards.org/consideration.html#6. Retrieved July 8, 2010. 
  19. ^ "British Academy Children's Awards Winners in 2010". Bafta.org. http://www.bafta.org/awards/childrens/awards2010,1452,BA.html. Retrieved December 5, 2010. 
  20. ^ "PBS, Nick Lead Daytime Emmys' Animation Nominations". Animation Magazine. May 13, 2010. http://www.animationmagazine.net/article/11524#. Retrieved June 10, 2010. 
  21. ^ Karl J. Paloucek (May 14, 2010). "Which kids' shows really DESERVE an Emmy?". Channel Guide Magazine. http://www.animationmagazine.net/article/11524#. Retrieved June 28, 2010. 
  22. ^ "The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Announces Winners of the 37th Annual Daytime Entertainment Creative Arts Emmy Awards" (PDF). National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. June 25, 2010. http://www.emmyonline.tv/mediacenter/_pdf/day_0910_creative_arts_winners.pdf. Retrieved June 28, 2010. 
  23. ^ "2010 Golden Reel Award Nominees: Television". Motion Picture Sound Editors. http://www.mpse.org/goldenreels/2010awards/2010tvnominees.html. Retrieved April 22, 2011. 
  24. ^ a b Nickelodeon official site
  25. ^ "2011 Golden Reel Award Nominees: Television". Motion Picture Sound Editors. http://www.mpse.org/goldenreels/2011awards/2011tvnominees.html. Retrieved February 28, 2011. 
  26. ^ "The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Announces the 38th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy® Award Nominations" (PDF). National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/_pdf/day_1011_nominations.pdf. Retrieved May 13, 2011. 
  27. ^ "The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Announces Winners for the 38th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy® Award Nominations" (PDF). National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/_pdf/day_1011_creative_arts_winners.pdf. Retrieved June 20, 2011. 
  28. ^ Toys and Family Entertainment Magazine
  29. ^ "Toys"R"Us/Babies"R"Us". Toysrus.com. http://www.toysrus.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=penguins%20of%20madagascar&origkw=penguins%20of%20madagascar&f=Taxonomy/TRUS/2254197&sr=1. Retrieved June 10, 2010. 
  30. ^ a b "Animation News Discussion Cartoon Community - toonzone news". News.toonzone.net. http://news.toonzone.net/articles/32066/penguins-of-madagascar-operation-dvd-premiere-arriving-feb-9-2010. Retrieved June 10, 2010. 
  31. ^ "HappyMeal.com". HappyMeal.com. February 22, 2010. http://www.happymeal.com/en_US/standalone.html?s=Intro&swfH=450&swfW=772&bs=toys&swf=/en_US/swf3/sections/toys/intro/intro.swf&bgc=%23000000&ID=#Intro. Retrieved June 10, 2010. 
  32. ^ Penguins Of Madagascar the Video Game Official Site
  33. ^ "'The Penguins of Madagascar' Videogame Now Available from THQ" (Press release). IGN. 2010-11-03. http://ds.ign.com/articles/113/1132274p1.html. Retrieved 2011-09-22. 
  34. ^ "Only Team Penguin Can Save the World From Dolphin Domination in THQ'S The Penguins of Madagascar: Dr. Blowhole Returns – Again!" (Press release). THQ. 2011-07-21. http://www.thq.com/us/go/article/view/247819/only_team_penguin_can_save_the_world_from_dolphin_domination_in_thq%E2%80%99s_the_penguins_of_madagascar:_dr._blowhole_returns_%E2%80%93_again!. Retrieved 2011-09-21. 
  35. ^ Fritz, Ben (September 14, 2005). "D'Works will rely on animal instinct". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117929100. Retrieved October 27, 2011. 
  36. ^ Kit, Borys (March 29, 2011). "DreamWorks Developing 'Madagascar' Penguins Spinoff Movie (Exclusive)". HollywoodReporter.com. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dreamworks-developing-madagascar-penguins-spinoff-172353. Retrieved March 31, 2011. 
  37. ^ Kit, Borys (August 11, 2011). "'Madagascar' Spin-Off to Be Helmed by 'Bee Movie' Co-Director (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/madagascar-spin-be-helmed-by-222257. Retrieved August 12, 2011. 
  38. ^ "Penguins Of Madagascar: Happy King Julien Day! (Widescreen): TV Shows". Walmart.com. http://www.walmart.com/ip/14562141. Retrieved June 10, 2010. 
  39. ^ "Penguins Of Madagascar: New To The Zoo (Widescreen): TV Shows". Walmart.com. http://www.walmart.com/ip/14562143. Retrieved June 10, 2010. 
  40. ^ "Penguins Of Madagascar: I Was A Penguin Zombie (Widescreen): TV Shows". Walmart.com. http://www.walmart.com/ip/14917829. Retrieved August 5, 2010. 
  41. ^ "Penguins Of Madagascar, The: All-Nighter Before Christmas". DVD Empire. http://www.dvdempire.com/Exec/v4_item.asp?item_id=1583086. Retrieved October 23, 2011. 

External links

Nickelodeon portal
Animation portal
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