Alex, Gloria, King Julian, Marty, Melman, the Penguins, these names will certainly ring a bell. If you recognise them, they are the characters from the cult film saga Madagascar. Halfway between a unique story of friendship and a tale of adventure, Dream Work Production’s animated films are masterpieces that converge on the beautiful country of Madagascar.
So what are the realities, myths and winks behind the Madagascar animated films? Between truth and counter-truth, what are the adventures of the Madagascar saga based on?
The first animated film Madagascar was released in 2005, directed by Eric Darnell and Tom McGarth. It was released in cinemas for the first time in the United States and has since been seen more than 200 million times. It was a minor cinematic success, but the film was well received and a second instalment, directed by Eric Darnell and Tom McGarth, was released for the first time on 3 December 2008, and was a commercial success. The latest instalment to date is Madagascar 3, directed by Eric Darnell, Tom McGarth and Conrad Vernom and produced by Dream Work. Released in cinemas for the first time in 2012, it has been viewed more than 210 million times.
On the island of Madagascar the saga is well known and here we bring you the realities, myths and winks between the film and reality.

Realities

Vegetation

Madagascar is an island with an abundance of vegetation. The island covers an area of 587,041 km2 and has a population of 31.5 million, or around 53 inhabitants per square metre. As in the film, Madagascar’s vegetation is dense and very patchy, consisting of undomesticated forests.
True to the animated film, this vegetation varies between primary forests, plateaux, small dry woods and medium-sized plains. Of course, as in the film, Madagascar is bordered by beaches, and the water all along its coastline is perfect for swimming and sunbathing. You’ll find a good spot with coconut palms for swimming and sunbathing all along Madagascar’s coastline.

Lemurs

Lemurs are a species of mammal endemic to the island of Madagascar, and in this respect the film is faithful to reality. There are several species of lemur on the island and the film portrays them correctly.
Lemur species have a special status on the island because they are endemic to the island and a source of income, and the film highlights this point correctly: lemurs live undisturbed in society, as they do in reality.
There is also a hierarchy among the lemur groups, which the film takes up in a humorous way.

Fossa

Identified as a predator of lemurs in the film, the fossa is a feline found on the island of Madagascar. It is the island’s natural predator and, as in the film, hunts lemurs.
The feline resembles its film adaptation, dressed in a brown tunic and equipped with a powerful, carnivorous snout and sharp claws. In the wild, the fossa is capable of climbing trees and hunting on solid ground to reach its prey.

Myths

Lion, zebra, giraffe, hippopotamus

There are many wild animals on the island of Madagascar, but lion, zebra, giraffe and hippopotamus are not on the list of animals living on the big island in the Indian Ocean. These are animals buried in the zoo in the film and this is the only way you can meet these animals on the island, making it an external introduction.
None of these animals can be seen on the island of Madagascar, reserves and zoos included.
Although the island’s climate is suitable for these large mammals, its vegetation is not adapted to their survival.

An island divided between lemurs and fossas

The animals that symbolise Madagascar are the lemurs, but the island is also home to other species of animal: zebu, frogs, chameleons, eagles, snakes, crocodiles and other species of animal found on the island.
The island of Madagascar is home to many species of wild animals. Sea crocodiles and freshwater crocodiles can be seen, as well as various species of birds and frogs and many species of insects.

Winks

Penguins

There are no penguins in Madagascar; they are an animal found in South Africa, a neighbour 2,000 km from the island. The presence of penguins in the film is a wink and a click, because as well as being a very close neighbour of Madagascar, several products from South Africa are used daily in Madagascar.
Whether it’s wine, hygiene products or anti-mosquito products, South Africa exports a great deal to Madagascar.
Relations between Madagascar and South Africa are warm and cordial.

Folklore

In the film, the lemurs celebrate enormously with song, a nod to the local culture that celebrates every event in life with song. In Madagascar, people sing at every important moment in the traditional calendar and at every important traditional event: for example, they sing at Independence Day, at the traditional New Year and at local rituals.
Singing is an important part of Malagasy life, expressing the fervour, commitment and attachment to traditions and values of those who practise it.
The film highlights this attachment to song and festivities in the best possible way, organising celebrations at each of the film’s major events and providing an extensive soundtrack throughout the saga.
There are several parties in the first instalment of the film, for example, and a 17-track soundtrack in the second instalment. From the iconic I like to move it to other songs like Chums, New York New York, Best Friend and Alex on The Spot, the saga has songs for every moment and every emotion, and the same goes for the Malagasy folk songs.