The movie follows the adventures of four zoo animals from the Central Park Zoo in New York City: Alex the lion (voiced by Ben Stiller), Marty the zebra (voiced by Chris Rock), Melman the giraffe (voiced by David Schwimmer), and Gloria the hippopotamus (voiced by Jada Pinkett Smith).
At the start of the film, Marty becomes disenchanted with his life in the zoo and longs to experience life in the wild. He escapes from the zoo, prompting his friends to embark on a mission to find him and bring him back.
The group is eventually captured by animal control and shipped off to a wildlife reserve in Kenya, Africa. However, their ship is hijacked by a group of penguins, who are attempting to escape to Antarctica. The penguins accidentally crash the ship on the island of Madagascar.
Upon arriving in Madagascar, Alex, Marty, Melman, and Gloria encounter a host of colorful and eccentric animals, including lemurs led by King Julien XIII (voiced by Sacha Baron Cohen). At first, the New York animals are thrilled by their newfound freedom and embrace their wild instincts.
However, Alex’s carnivorous nature begins to surface, causing tension within the group. He struggles to resist his primal instincts and maintain his friendship with Marty and the others.
In the climax of the film, Alex succumbs to his instincts and attacks Marty in a fit of hunger. Horrified by his actions, Alex is banished from the group and forced to confront his true nature.
Realizing the importance of friendship and acceptance, Alex reconciles with Marty and the others, and they work together to thwart an attack by a group of predatory fossas. With the help of the lemurs and other animals, they defeat the fossas and reclaim their place in the group.
The film concludes with the animals embracing their new life in Madagascar, forging friendships with the native wildlife, and enjoying their newfound freedom. Alex, Marty, Melman, and Gloria learn valuable lessons about friendship, acceptance, and the importance of staying true to oneself.
Overall, “Madagascar” is a heartwarming and humorous animated film that celebrates the spirit of adventure and the bonds of friendship. With its vibrant animation, memorable characters, and entertaining storyline, it offers an enjoyable movie experience for audiences of all ages.