Common Sense Media Review
By Joly Herman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Holiday special about helping strangers has light lessons.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Madagascar: A Little Wild Holiday Goose Chase
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In MADAGASCAR: A LITTLE WILD: HOLIDAY GOOSE CHASE the young friends Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, and Gloria the Hippo are excited about the upcoming winter holidays. Being New York City residents, they have a plan for their celebration. They want to get their favorite dumplings, then get peppermint cupcakes and watch the lights at the zoo be kindled. When they start their journey, Melman realizes that their "naughty" list for Santa is longer than their "nice" list, and he seeks to do good deeds to set things right, but he keeps messing up. Will he find a way to make a good thing happen?
Is It Any Good?
Madagascar: a Little Wild: Holiday Goose Chase is pretty formulaic -- it's got a couple of short musical numbers, some holiday cheer, and pretty predictable holiday messages emphasizing togetherness. But there are a few details that lend it more spark. First, it feels true to New York City in a way that some other kids' shows don't (Tom and Jerry in New York, I'm talking to you). The main characters are Manhattan locals who do very New Yorker things, like try to get to the dumpling shop before everything's sold out. There are parades to contend with, and tourists who might be lost.
Secondly, just when you think that the characters in this show are satisfied with the good deed they've done in the name of Santa, they go a little bit farther to help someone a little bit more. Families who celebrate Hanukkah may feel acknowledged here too, as there are some menorahs glimmering in the winter scenery. Fans of the Madagascar franchise will enjoy this one more than newbies -- kids more than adults -- but there are a couple of winks to adults that might make it worth the family time spent together in front of this one.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the effects of marketing to kids around the holidays, as well as for the characters in Madagascar: a Little Wild: Holiday Goose Chase. Does watching shows sometimes make you want accompanying merchandise?
A goose is lost in this show and can't find his family. How do the characters who find him exhibit empathy? How do you show that you understand how someone feels?
Melman decides to make a list of good deeds, and naughty deeds so that Santa will notice. How does this relate to integrity? could it be said that integrity is being good even if nobody notices?
TV Details
- Premiere date : November 26, 2021
- Cast : Tucker Chandler , Amir O’Neil , Eric Petersen
- Network : Hulu
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Adventures , Arts ( Music and Sing-Along ) , Friendship , Holidays
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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