Parents' Guide to

The Penguins of Madagascar

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Scene-stealing schemers get their own gig; fun for kids.

TV Nickelodeon Kids' Animation 2008
The Penguins of Madagascar Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 6+

Based on 19 parent reviews

Joe W.
Joe W. Parent of 3-year-old
September 3, 2023
age 3+

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
IamASafeOne
IamASafeOne Parent of 8, 10 and 14-year-old
April 6, 2013
age 7+

Good

I think this show isn't bad, It's a spin-off of Madagascar, the movie, which is as appropriate as this. This is a better and funny spy show, This has cartoon violence (like almost every nick cartoon) Love (with a doll) and "booty" references (King Julien) I think it's kind of real life, but it's mainly entertaining, and eye-catching. I like how Private is safe and careful, but everyone else makes fun of him, but at the end, they end up liking him for who he is. That's a good lesson. There's rarely any manners, but it's full of cartoon action and has a good spy theme song. It's a good time-passer and fun to watch, no sexual innuedo, no cursing, but my 10 year old did point out Private was named for his d--- (I am not sure though) Just one problem. Rico. He seems to have ate every single attack and spy gadget in the world, because whenever the other penguins ask him for gadgets, he throws them up. The penguins don't even say thank you. There's slapstick and making fun of (for the humor) Kids will enjoy it, it's funny.

This title has:

Great role models
Too much violence
Too much consumerism
See all 19 parent reviews

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?

Our review:
Parents say (19 ):
Kids say (64 ):

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.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • 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?

TV Details

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