Our entire family enjoys this show.
The Penguins of Madagascar
(Rated TV-G, Children, cartoons, & animation, Starring Jeff Bennett, Tom McGrath, Danny Jacobs, Where to watch: Nickelodeon, DVD)
-
Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
-
Common Sense says
Scene-stealing schemers get their own gig; fun for kids.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 6 and Up
The good stuff
-
Educational value:
-
Role models:
What to watch out for
-
Violence & scariness:
-
Sexy stuff:
-
Language:
-
Consumerism:
-
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of The Penguins of Madagascar was written by Kari Croop
Parents need to know that kids who haven't already seen the Madagascar movies -- where the scene-stealing penguins got their start -- may or may not be interested in the shenanigans presented here, because the series doesn't offer any backstory (exactly who these penguins and their other friends are is never explained). There's also a bit of iffy behavior like cartoon violence and burping that parents wouldn't want their kids emulating on a good day. But on the whole, this is harmless entertainment.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the cartoon critters featured in the series. Why do you think they were chosen to get their own show? How does this series compare to the Madagascar movies?
- How is a real-life penguin different from the animated version? How do lemurs really live in the wild?
- How do animals' lives change when they're raised in captivity? Are zoos good or bad for animals' well-being?
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on The Penguins of Madagascar
What’s the Story?
Set in the wake of the action that played out in Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, this animated spin-off sets four of the film's secondary characters -- resourceful penguins Skipper (voiced by Tom McGrath), Kowalski (Jeff Bennett), Private (James Patrick Stuart), and Rico (John DiMaggio) -- firmly in the spotlight. While their other friends are living it up in darkest Africa, the flightless foursome have staked their claim in the Central Park Zoo. But now they're competing for supremacy against an old royal pain of a rival: pompous lemur "king" Julien (Danny Jacobs).
Is It Any Good?
Bottom line? Thanks to random plot lines and less-intricate animation, this Nickelodeon series isn't quite as good as the movies that inspired it. But if you love the Madagascar characters, you'll be thoroughly entertained.
Kids, especially, are bound to giggle when the penguins spring into action with the show-stealing Mission: Impossible antics that made them famous.
Our Members Say
See all 26 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
-
I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
-
I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
Great for most ages
this is a funny family series.
-
I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
This show is great. I love how Skipper will turn everything into a covert operation. And how Rico is always like KABOOM! and can hack up anything the team will need
-
I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
GREAT SHOW!
I love this show! It is pretty good and I don't think that there are any problems with it. Kowalski also uses good vocabulary that can help kids enlarge their language...in a good way.
-
I rate this title iffy for age 5 and give it
- My highlights are:
Best show on Nick
This show may actually end up saving Nick in the long run. With the newly released shows being pieces of garbage and old, used-to-be-good-but-not-so-much-anymore shows like Spongebob running themselves into the ground, the Penguins was a breakthrough that has become one of the most popular shows on the channel. Unlike the other newer shows which all seem to share one common principal (terribly animated kids with IQs of 50 make potty jokes for 11 minutes), Penguins actually has some care and intelligence in putting episodes together. The CGI animation is the best on Nick so far and the show is actually funny and not only uses minimal potty humor jokes but jokes that make the show entertaining for teens and adults as well. This appears to have been a true breakthrough for Nickelodian.
Give Recommendations, Get Them, Too!
Become a member and get recommendations from other parents based on your child's age.Tell us your child's age:
Already a member? Log inOur Members Rate It
Ratings at a Glance
| 60% | of parents say there are good role models |
| 60% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
| 60% | of parents say it's educational |
Have you seen it?
For Your Family
Get age-based recommendations for your kids:
Customize based on your child's age
JazzerGyrl recommends:
Lanny and Wayne the Christmas Elves in Prep & Landing
for kids age 7
See more from JazzerGyrl
Lanny and Wayne the Christmas Elves in Prep & Landing
for kids age 7
See more from JazzerGyrl
