Photo: Madagascar / DreamWorks Pictures

Small Details From The ‘Madagascar’ Movies That Are Pretty Darn Wild

Olivia Peterman
June 15, 2021
Voting Rules
Vote up the details you totally missed in the 'Madagascar' films.

The filmmakers who came up with a hypochondriac giraffe voiced by David Schwimmer and a kingly lemur voiced by Sacha Baren Cohen in the Madagscar movies paid attention not only to the hilarious menagerie on screen, but also to extra little creative details. In the original DreamWorks animated film Madagascar, followed by its sequels Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted, and the spinoff Penguins of Madagascar, the creators managed to sneak in a few almost-hidden details you probably missed.

Film fans with eagle eyes, however, noticed a few things you probably missed the first, second, or even third time around.

Photo: Madagascar / DreamWorks Pictures
  • 1
    18 VOTES

    The Date On A Contract In ‘Madagascar 3’ Is The Same As The Release Date Of The Film

     

    18 votes
  • 2
    38 VOTES

    In ‘Madagascar 2,’ The New York Skyline Shows The Twin Towers, Indicating A Much Earlier Time Period Than The First Film

    In ‘Madagascar 2,’ The New York Skyline Shows The Twin Towers, Indicating A Much Earlier Time Period Than The First Film
    Photo: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa / Paramount Pictures

    From Redditor u/WhyWontItBlend:

    In the first part of Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, the Twin Towers are visible over New York City. This is because this portion of the movie takes place several years before the OG Madagascar, which came out in 2005.

    38 votes
  • 3
    31 VOTES

    Marty The Zebra’s Treadmill Has Buttons Labeled ‘Fight’ And ‘Flight’

    Marty The Zebra’s Treadmill Has Buttons Labeled ‘Fight’ And ‘Flight’
    Photo: Madagascar / DreamWorks Pictures

    From Redditor u/Joyoul:

    Madagascar... Marty the zebra’s treadmill, called “Hoofmill,” [has] buttons labeled “FLIGHT” for acceleration/deceleration and “FIGHT” for stop. This reflects the instinctive flight-or-fight response of animals when their survival is threatened.

    31 votes
  • 4
    31 VOTES

    French Animal Control Officers Are Shipped In Boxes Labeled Freedom Fries, Toast, Dressing, And Dip

    French Animal Control Officers Are Shipped In Boxes Labeled Freedom Fries, Toast, Dressing, And Dip
    Photo: Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted / Paramount Pictures

    From Redditor u/StatusLoquat8:

    In Madagascar 3, the French guards are shipped to Madagascar. The boxes are labeled Freedom Fries, Toast, Dressing and Dip. This is a reference to the [US] House of Representatives' decision in 2003 to rename french fries in their cafeteria "Freedom Fries" after France refused to support the [US conflict with] Iraq.

    31 votes
  • 5
    26 VOTES

    In ‘Penguins of Madagascar,’ A Penguin Gets ‘Lara’ Tattooed On His Chest, Referring To Producer Lara Breay

     

    26 votes
  • 6
    25 VOTES

    In ‘Penguins of Madagascar,’ The Sheep Thought To Be The Villain Is The Same Model As The Sheep From ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Franchise

    In ‘Penguins of Madagascar,’ The Sheep Thought To Be The Villain Is The Same Model As The Sheep From ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Franchise
    Photo: 20th Century Fox / Netflix

    On Twitter, @DreamWorksFacts noted that  "in Penguins of Madagascar, the sheep that was believed to be Dave the villain is actually from How to Train Your Dragon" (pictured above at left is the sheep from Penguins of Madagascar; at right is a sheep from the Dragons: Rescue Riders Netflix show, part of the How to Train Your Dragon franchise).

    25 votes