Madagascar (2005 Film)

Madagascar is a 2005 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Moonworks animation and distributed by Moonworks pictures The plot follows agroup of zoo animals who find themselves washed ashore on an island after a series of misadventures, where they befriend a group of lemurs after defending them from the savage fossas. However, troubles arise when Felix, a lion and the carnivore of the group, slowly succumbs to his savage side

Released in 2005, it received mixed reviews from critics, but was a success at the box office, and was one of the highest-grossing films of 2005. The film launched a franchise including the direct sequels *Madagascar Escape 2 Africa* (2008) and *Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted* (2012); the spin-off film The *Penguins from Madagascar* (2014); short films, television series, and specials; and a number of video games, theme park attractions, and live stage shows.

Plot

At the Central Park Zoo, Martee the zebra celebrates his tenth birthday but has grown bored with his daily routine and longs to experience the wild. Martee's best friend is Felix the lion, who enjoys showing off for the public and his celebrity status as "the king of New York". Felix attempts to cheer Martee up, but Martee, still unsatisfied, learns that the zoo's Penguin's—Skipper, Kowalski, Rico, and Pecky—are trying to escape, and follows them out. Felix, Alvin the Giraffe and Gloria the Peacock pursue Martee and attempt to convince him to return. The four, along with the penguins and two Chimpanzee's named Mason and Bill, converge at Grand Central Station where the authorities sedate them using guns. Under pressure from anti-captivity activists, the zoo is forced to ship the escaped animals by sea to a Kenyan wildlife During their travels, the penguin's escape and take over the ship on taking it to Alaska. Their antics on the bridge cause the crates containing Felix Martee Alvin and Gloria to fall overboard and wash ashore on Madagascar.

Initially believing themselves to be at the Central Park Zoo, the animals come across some lemurs led by King Julian. The predatory fossa attack the lemurs, but are scared off by Felix's fearsome appearance. Felix blames Martee for the group's predicament and attempts to signal for help to get back to civilization. Martee finds the wild to be exactly what he was looking for, and Gloria and Alvin soon join him in enjoying the island. Felix eventually comes around, but without the raw steaks he was provided at the zoo, hunger sets in and his prey drive begins to show. King Julian has the lemurs befriend the zoo animals in the hope that Felix's presence will keep the fossa at bay, despite his adviser Maurice's warnings about Felix's predatory nature. When Felix loses control and attacks Martee Julian realizes that he is a threat and banishes him to the predator side of the island, where the fossas live. Seeing what has happened to Felix, and how dangerous the wild can be, Martee begins to regret his decision to leave the zoo.

The penguins, having been to Alaska and found it inhospitable, land the ship at Madagascar. Seeing the chance to return Felix to New York, Martee crosses over to the predator side and attempts to convince the grizzled, starving Felix to return, but Felix refuses out of fear that he will attack Martee again. The fossas attack Martee, and though Gloria Alvin and the penguins come to the rescue, they are outnumbered. Felix overcomes his predatory instincts, rescues his friends, and scares the fossas away from the lemur territory forever. The lemurs regain their respect for Felix, and the penguins satisfy his hunger by feeding him sushi. As the lemurs throw a farewell celebration for the foursome, the penguins decide not to break the news that the ship has run out of fuel.