View source for Merry Madagascar

{{Short description|2009 film directed by David Soren}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = Merry Madagascar DVD cover.jpg
| image_alt            = 
| caption              = 
| genre                = 
| based_on             = Characters by<br />[[Tom McGrath (animator)|Tom McGrath]]<br />[[Eric Darnell]]
| writer               = [[David Soren (animator)|David Soren]]<br />Eric Darnell<br />Tom McGrath
| director             = David Soren
| starring             = [[Ben Stiller]]<br />[[Chris Rock]]<br />[[David Schwimmer]]<br />[[Jada Pinkett Smith]]<br />[[Danny Jacobs (actor)|Danny Jacobs]]<br />[[Cedric the Entertainer]]<br />[[Andy Richter]]<br />[[Carl Reiner]]
| music                = [[Heitor Pereira]]
| country              = United States
| language             = English
| num_episodes         = 
| producer             = Joe M. Aguilar
| executive_producer   = [[Mireille Soria]]
| editor               = James Ryan
| cinematography       = 
| runtime              = 30 minutes
| company              = [[DreamWorks Animation]]<br />[[Pacific Data Images]] (uncredited)
| budget               = 
| network              = [[NBC]]
| released             = {{Start date|2009|11|17}}
}}
'''''Merry Madagascar''''' is a Christmas special that was first broadcast on the [[NBC]] network on November 17, 2009, which starred the characters from the film series ''[[Madagascar (franchise)|Madagascar]]'', and takes place sometime between the first and second film.<ref>{{cite news|last=J. McLean|first=Thomas|title=NBC Airs DreamWorks Holiday Specials|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/nbc-airs-dreamworks-holiday-specials/|access-date=March 19, 2012|newspaper=Animation Magazine|date=October 1, 2009}}</ref> It is the second [[DreamWorks Animation]] Christmas special, after ''[[Shrek the Halls]]''.

It features many of the same voices from the film, including [[Ben Stiller]], [[Chris Rock]], [[David Schwimmer]], and [[Jada Pinkett Smith]]. The only major exception was [[Sacha Baron Cohen]] as King Julien XIII, who was replaced by [[Danny Jacobs (actor)|Danny Jacobs]]. [[Carl Reiner]] provided the voice of Santa Claus.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Crump |first1=William D. |title=Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film |date=2019 |publisher=McFarland & Co |isbn=9781476672939 |page=189}}</ref>

==Plot==
Taking place after the events of the [[Madagascar (2005 film)|first film]] and before the events of the [[Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa|second film]], [[List of characters in Madagascar#Alex|Alex]], [[List of characters in Madagascar#Marty|Marty]], [[List of characters in Madagascar#Melman|Melman]], and [[List of characters in Madagascar#Gloria|Gloria]] attempt to return to [[New York City]] in a hot air balloon for [[Christmas]]. However, the [[lemur]] population inadvertently thwarts their escape by mistaking them for the "Marauding Red Night Goblin" that visits annually. The "Goblin" then showers the island with coals. Alex shoots it down, discovering it was actually [[Santa Claus]] throwing [[coal]] at Julien for being naughty.

The crash leaves Santa with [[amnesia]], unaware of his responsibilities. The group resolve to deliver the presents and use the sleigh to get back home, but [[Santa Claus's reindeer|Santa's reindeer]] won't take orders from anyone other than Santa, so the penguins use Santa's magic dust to fly. Their initial attempts to make deliveries go awry so they decide to dump the gifts at the relevant post offices. However, after crashing into an apartment and unintentionally bringing joy to a little girl, they continue with the deliveries despite the adverse conditions.

Back on [[Madagascar]], while the lemurs are presenting gifts to Julien for "Julianuary", Santa rediscovers his ability to make toys. He crafts gifts for them all, angering Julien as he feels the focus should be on him. Julien decrees that the lemurs' gifts belong to him. Sifting through the presents alone depresses him; Santa's suggestion of giving a gift lifts his mood.

As the night nears its end, the animals have only enough magic dust for one last trip. Putting aside their desire to go home, they return to Madagascar to rescue Santa. They run out of dust and crash into him, restoring his memory. He thanks the animals for making his deliveries and takes Julien off the naughty list. However, the animals have overlooked a bag for [[Liechtenstein]], so Santa switches to a reserve tank to make the trip before the animals can ask for a ride. The animals resolve to enjoy their Christmas in Madagascar, but Julien throws a coconut at Alex to get back on the naughty list, causing a lump on his head and amnesia, like Santa before him.

==Cast==
* [[Ben Stiller]] as Alex the [[lion]].
* [[Chris Rock]] as Marty the [[zebra]].
* [[David Schwimmer]] as Melman the [[giraffe]].
* [[Jada Pinkett Smith]] as Gloria the [[hippopotamus]].
* [[Cedric the Entertainer]] as Maurice the [[aye-aye]].
* [[Andy Richter]] as Mort the [[mouse lemur]].
* [[Carl Reiner]] as [[Santa Claus]].
* [[Danny Jacobs (actor)|Danny Jacobs]] as King Julien XIII the [[ring-tailed lemur]].
* [[Tom McGrath (animator)|Tom McGrath]] as Skipper the [[penguin]].
* [[Chris Miller (animator)|Chris Miller]] as Kowalski the penguin.
* [[Christopher Knights]] as Private the penguin.
* [[Nina Dobrev]] as Cupid the reindeer.
* [[Willow Smith]] as Abby.
* [[Jim Cummings]] as Donner, the lead [[reindeer]].

''Note'': Rico appears, but has no dialogue.

==Awards==
''Merry Madagascar'' was nominated for six [[Annie Award]]s, and won one award for Storyboarding in a Television Production.<ref>{{cite web|title=37th Annual Annie Nominations and Awards Recipients |url=http://annieawards.org/legacy37th.html |publisher=The Annie Awards |access-date=March 25, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100815022604/http://annieawards.org/legacy37th.html |archive-date=August 15, 2010 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" 
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! Award !
! Recipient(s)
! Result 
|-
| Best Animated Television Production 
| [[DreamWorks Animation]]
| {{Nom}} 
|-
| Character Animation in a Television Production 
| Kevan Shorey
| {{Nom}} 
|-
| Character Design in a Television Production 
| Craig Kellman
| {{Nom}} 
|-
| Storyboarding in a Television Production 
| Robert Koo
| {{Won}} 
|-
| rowspan="2" | Voice Acting in a Television Production 
| [[Danny Jacobs (actor)|Danny Jacobs]] (Voice of King Julien)
| {{Nom}} 
|-
| [[Willow Smith]] (Voice of Abby)
| {{Nom}} 
|}

==Home media==
''Merry Madagascar'' was released on [[DVD]] in the United States on November 18, 2009, exclusively at stores of [[Walmart]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Walmart and DreamWorks Animation Offer Exclusive Merry Madagascar DVD and Holiday Items in Walmart Stores|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/walmart-and-dreamworks-animation-offer-exclusive-merry-madagascar-dvd-and-holiday-items-in-walmart-stores-68873342.html|access-date=April 21, 2012|newspaper=PR Newswire|date=November 3, 2009}}</ref> and it was widely released on October 11, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|title=Merry Madagascar (2009)|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005G172J0|publisher=Amazon|access-date=November 16, 2012}}</ref> The special was released on Blu-ray and DVD on October 30, 2012, as part of compilation titled ''Dreamworks Holiday Classics''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dreamworks Holiday Classics: Merry Madagascar / Shrek The Halls / Dragons: Gift Of The Night Fury (Blu-ray + DVD) (Widescreen)|url=http://www.walmart.com/ip/21578976|publisher=Walmart|access-date=August 12, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Dreamworks Holiday Classics Blu-ray|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Dreamworks-Holiday-Classics-Blu-ray/52781/|publisher=Blu-ray.com|access-date=August 12, 2012}}</ref> It was re released on DVD on October 1, 2013, along with ''[[Shrek the Halls]]'', ''[[Kung Fu Panda Holiday]]'', ''[[Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury]]'', and ''[[The Croods]]''.

==Partnership ==
In July 2011, as part of a strategic partnership between [[DreamWorks Animation]] and [[Gaylord Hotels]], ''Merry Madagascar'' was presented as the theme of the ICE! exhibit at Gaylord's hotels in [[Gaylord Opryland|Nashville]] and [[Gaylord National|Maryland]]. In this presentation, the plot of the film is told through a series of ice sculptures that visitors walk past.<ref>{{cite news|title=THIS CHRISTMAS, 'SHREK THE HALLS' AND GET 'MERRY MADAGASCAR' AT GAYLORD HOTELS|url=http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-opryland/media-room/press-releases/2011/2011_07_19.html|access-date=April 21, 2012|newspaper=Gaylord Hotels|date=July 19, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502192144/http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-opryland/media-room/press-releases/2011/2011_07_19.html|archive-date=May 2, 2012}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}

* {{IMDb title|1526300}}

{{Madagascar (franchise)}}
{{David Soren}}
{{DreamWorks animated films}}

[[Category:2009 television specials]]
[[Category:NBC television specials]]
[[Category:American television films]]
[[Category:Christmas television specials]]
[[Category:DreamWorks Animation animated short films]]
[[Category:2009 animated short films]]
[[Category:2000s American animated films]]
[[Category:2000s Christmas films]]
[[Category:Madagascar (franchise)]]
[[Category:American Christmas television specials]]
[[Category:Animated Christmas television specials]]
[[Category:2000s animated television specials]]
[[Category:Films scored by Heitor Pereira]]
[[Category:Films directed by David Soren (animator)]]
[[Category:2009 films]]