Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted is a 2012 American computer-animated circus comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and Pacific Data Images and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The film is the third installment of the Madagascar franchise, the sequel to Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, and was the first film in the series to be released in 3D. It was directed by Eric Darnell, Conrad Vernon, and Tom McGrath from a screenplay by Darnell and Noah Baumbach, and features Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric the Entertainer, Andy Richter, McGrath, Chris Miller, Christopher Knights, and Vernon reprising their voice acting roles from the previous installments, alongside new cast members Jessica Chastain, Bryan Cranston, Martin Short, and Frances McDormand. In the film, the main characters—a party of animals from the Central Park Zoo whose adventures have already taken them to Madagascar and Africa—attempt to return to New York City, and find themselves traveling across Europe with a circus while being chased by a relentless French Animal Control officer.
The sequel was announced in August 2008, three months before the release of the second film. The amount of animation and visual effects were done at DreamWorks Dedicated Unit, an India-based unit at Technicolor. As with other films in the franchise, Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted features several songs from most artists, with musical score being composed by Hans Zimmer.
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted premiered at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival on May 18, and was theatrically released in the United States on June 8, 2012. It was the eighth highest-grossing film of 2012 and the highest-grossing film in the franchise, with a worldwide gross of over $746 million. A spin-off titled Penguins of Madagascar was released in November 2014. A sequel, Madagascar 4, was initially planned for a 2018 theatrical release, but was removed from the release schedule following a restructuring of DreamWorks Animation in 2015.
Storyline[]
Shortly after becoming the co-leaders, the penguins and the chimpanzees leave Africa for Monte Carlo in their modified airplane. When they do not return, Alex, Marty, Melman, Gloria, King Julien, Maurice and Mort decide that they should go find them and return to their home at the Central Park Zoo in New York City. They find the penguins and chimpanzees at the Monte Carlo Casino. Chaos ensues, and the animals escape from Captain Chantel DuBois, a the head of Monaco's Animal Control, who is determined to add Alex's head to her taxidermy collection.
When their aircraft crash-lands in France, the animals board a departing circus train. The circus animals—a sea lion named Stefano, a jaguar named Gia, and a tiger named Vitaly—are suspicious of outsiders, so Alex lies about them being American circus animals. The circus is headed for a performance show in Rome, followed by one in London where they hope to impress an American promoter in order to get their first American tour. To allay suspicion, the penguins purchase the circus from its human ringmaster with the fortune they gained in Monte Carlo. In Rome, Alex becomes enamored with Gia while Julien falls in love with performing bear Sonya. DuBois chases Julien and Sonya, but fails to catch them and is arrested for stealing the motor scooter.
The performance at the Colosseum in Rome is a disaster: the animals' acts go awry and they are chased off by the angry audience, though they escape on the train. Stefano explains to Alex that the circus was once famous and Vitaly was its star, skillfully jumping through ever-smaller hoops. However, a severe burn during one of Vitaly's stunts caused him to lose his passion and the entire circus suffered as a result. Alex convinces the circus animals to come up with a new and exciting all-animal act that will restore their former glory. Marty and Stefano find a new passion in being shot out of a cannon, while Melman and Gloria become adept at dancing together on a tightrope. Gia persuades Alex to teach her "Trapeze Americano" and the two begin to fall in love. Meanwhile, DuBois escapes from prison from printing a document photo of Alex performing at the Central Park Zoo and recruits her henchmen who were injured at the chase in Monte Carlo.
In London, Vitaly is afraid of failing again and considers ditching the show, but Alex helps him rediscover his passion for performing the impossible. At Alex's suggestion, Vitaly lubricates himself with hair conditioner instead of olive oil, and succeeds in jumping through the hoop. The show is a spectacular success, and the promoter signs the circus to a contract. DuBois shows up and the penguins manage to foil her attempt to capture Alex. However, the printed document she was carrying reveals that Alex, Marty, Melman, and Gloria were zoo animals all along. Feeling betrayed and deceived, the circus animals eject the foursome.
After the argument with Julien and Sonya, the zoo and circus animals go their separate ways but arrive in Central Park at the same time. Looking in at their old home, the zoo animals realize how much their adventures have changed them and decide that their true place is with the circus. They are then ambushed by DuBois, but before she can behead Alex, the zoo staff arrive and incorrectly believe that she is returning the missing animals. Julien makes it back to the circus with the news and reconciles with Sonya while Gia and Vitaly convince the others that they should rescue their friends. The zoo animals awaken in their old enclosures, now surrounded by high fences. DuBois is being honored by the zoo staff, but she rejects their reward and secretly loads a poison-filled dart and takes aim at Alex. They are soon saved by the circus animals and together defeat DuBois. Alex and his friends permanently join the circus with Alex and Julien starting a romantic relationship with Gia and Sonya, respectively. As retribution for causing their troubles, the penguins ship DuBois and her henchmen in crates to Madagascar, reminiscent of how the animals were shipped in.
Also See[]
- Madagascar: A Little Wild
- Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012) (TV Spots)
- Madagascar (2005)
- Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008)
- Penguins of Madagascar (2014)
- The Penguins of Madagascar
- All Hail King Julien
Movie Trailer[]
- Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012) (Trailers)
Sound Effects Used[]
The film used sound effects from Skywalker Sound, Hanna-Barbera, Warner Bros., Cartoon Trax Volume 1, The Premiere Edition Volume 1, Animal Trax, The General Series 6000, Series 2000, The Edge Edition Volume 1 and Signature Series - Peter Michael Sullivan. Only one sound effect from Series 8000, and one from SoundDogs' Soundstorm Library were used in the film.
- Cartoon Network Cartoon Fall Sound/Hollywoodedge, Sky Rocket Loud High TE021701 (low volume)
- CROWD GASP
- Disney Ricochet
- H-B ZIP, CARTOON - QUICK WHISTLE ZIP IN, HIGH/Sound Ideas, ZIP, CARTOON - RICCO ZIP IN 01 (R & B)
- Hollywoodedge, 357 Magnum Pistol Sho PE092801
- Hollywoodedge, Bear Grizzly Roar Sin AT030301/Hollywoodedge, Kodiak Bear Roar Brea PE931608
- Hollywoodedge, Bear Grizzly Roars Mu AT030401
- Hollywoodedge, Bear Growls SS015401
- Hollywoodedge, Bicycle Bell Rings Sm PE190701
- Hollywoodedge, Bird Hawk Single Scre PE020801/Hollywoodedge, Hawk Screech Single AT082901
- Hollywoodedge, Bone Crunch Hard WetB PE247201
- Hollywoodedge, Bounce Boing Drum CRT016901 or Sound Ideas, BOINK, CARTOON - TIMP DOINK
- Hollywoodedge, Bottle Rocket 2 Picco PE098501
- Hollywoodedge, Bubble Pop Whoop CRT049101
- Hollywoodedge, Car Crash Small 1 Shor PE111901
- Hollywoodedge, Chimpanzee Screams AT050101
- Hollywoodedge, Chimpanzee Screams AT050201/Sound Ideas, APES, CHIMP - SCREAM, TYPICAL CHIMP SCREAM, ANIMAL, CHIMPANZEE
- Hollywoodedge, Chimpanzee Screams AT050401/Sound Ideas, CHIMPANZEE - EXCITED CALL, ANIMAL, MONKEY, APE 03
- Hollywoodedge, Chimpanzee Screeche PE026201
- Hollywoodedge, Comedy Body Fall Msx CRT017301
- Hollywoodedge, Crash Metal Glass PE110801
- Hollywoodedge, Crash Train Car Mix PE111601
- Hollywoodedge, Crowd Med Shock PE961301/Hollywoodedge, Crowd Reaction Shock PE142501
- Hollywoodedge, Crunchy Fist Impact PE247301/Hollywoodedge, Kick Body Hit 4 Thud Cr PE101601
- Hollywoodedge, Cymbal Crash CRT043802
- Hollywoodedge, Dry Squeaky Kiss OrS CRT027702
- Hollywoodedge, Electricity Arcing 3 PE200301
- Hollywoodedge, Elephant Single Shor AT043401
- Hollywoodedge, Elephant Trumpeting PE024801
- Hollywoodedge, Factory Buzzer Rever TE020301 (shortened)
- Hollywoodedge, Fanfare Ta Da CRT044001
- Hollywoodedge, Gooey Splat CRT052405
- Hollywoodedge, Gusts Heavy Cold Wind PE031601/Hollywoodedge, Whistling Wind Stead PE033301
- Hollywoodedge, Hawk Redtailed Scree AT082801
- Hollywoodedge, Head Bonk 2 Types One CRT032402
- Hollywoodedge, Heart Beat Slow 63 Bea PE146601
- Hollywoodedge, Heavy Metallic Impa CRT017304
- Hollywoodedge, Honk With Cymbal Crash CRT033005
- Hollywoodedge, Human Whistlebecko CRT059206
- Hollywoodedge, Impact Wcymbal Drum CRT032501
- Hollywoodedge, Inflate Pop Bubble CRT049104
- Hollywoodedge, Lg Metal Wheel Creak CRT053701
- Hollywoodedge, Lightning 08 CloseG SIG012601
- Hollywoodedge, Man Yodeling 2 Types CRT029601
- Hollywoodedge, Metal Hinge Creak CRT053503
- Hollywoodedge, Punch Body Hit 1 Thud PE100801
- Hollywoodedge, Rapid Metallic Warb CRT041204
- Hollywoodedge, Screams 1 Woman Singl PE133501
- Hollywoodedge, Screams 2 Woman Singl PE133601 (Used for Phil when he screams.)
- Hollywoodedge, Screams 7 Woman Three PE134101
- Hollywoodedge, Single Bullet Impact PE236401
- Hollywoodedge, Swish 12 Single PE117101
- Hollywoodedge, Swish 29 Single PE118801
- Hollywoodedge, Thin Metal Clang CRT031701
- Hollywoodedge, Wet Splats Various CRT052101
- Hollywoodedge, Woman Screamsahhh M CRT028203
- Hollywoodedge, Wood Door OCKnob Ratt PE180201
- Looney Tunes Cartoon Fall Sound
- PEOPLE CHEERING
- SKYWALKER, AIRPLANE - DOGFIGHT, WWII AIRCRAFT, GUNFIRE
- SKYWALKER, BOUNCE - LUXO BALL BOUNCING
- SKYWALKER, BULLET - HOTH BLASTER RICOCHET
- SKYWALKER, BULLET - SCREAM-LIKE RICOCHET (Used to accent the car explosion and the penguins going at light-speed.)
- SKYWALKER, CAR - VARIOUS TIRE SCREECHING
- SKYWALKER, CROWD - SCREAM IN PANIC
- SKYWALKER, DOOR - VESTIBULE SLIDING DOOR, CLOSE
- SKYWALKER, ELECTRICITY - FORCE FIELD IMPACT
- SKYWALKER, ELECTRICITY - SPIELBERG "HEAT RAY" ZAP (Heard when King Julien walks across a busted powerline singing a rendition of "Hot in Herre" by Nelly, and once when a light-up streamer shoots out in the film's climax at a somewhat low volume.)
- SKYWALKER, EXPLOSION - CRACKLING EXPLOSION, MEDIUM 01
- SKYWALKER, FOOTSTEP - OMNIDROID FOOTSTEPS
- SKYWALKER GLASS, SMASH - LARGE WINDOW CRASH 02
- SKYWALKER GRENADE LAUNCHING SOUND
- SKYWALKER HIGH-PITCHED POW SOUND
- SKYWALKER, JET - ARTOO'S ROCKET THRUSTERS
- SKYWALKER, METAL - RESOUNDING CLANG 02
- SKYWALKER, METAL - TRAIN MECHANICS SCRAPING
- SKYWALKER, METAL - WEIRD CLANK
- SKYWALKER PUNCHING SOUNDS
- SKYWALKER, SPIN - MACE WINDU SPINNING THROUGH AIR
- SKYWALKER, SPIN - SINGLE SPIN
- SKYWALKER STOMACH GROWLS
- SKYWALKER, TRAIN - AIRY STEAM CHUGS
- SKYWALKER, TRAIN - CONTROL LEVERS BEING ENGAGED (Heard once in a very low volume.)
- SKYWALKER, TRAIN - LARGE COUPLING IMPACTS
- SKYWALKER, TRAIN - POLAR EXPRESS CHUGGING (Used as the chugging sound for the "Fur Power" circus train's locomotive.)
- SKYWALKER, WATER - LARGE SPLASH
- SKYWALKER, WATER - SINGLE SPLASH
- SKYWALKER, WHISTLE - CARTOON FALL WHISTLE (Might've been confused with Looney Tunes Cartoon Fall Sound for some reason.)
- SKYWALKER, WHOOSH - INDY'S WHIP CRACKS
- SKYWALKER, WHOOSH - SCREAM-LIKE PASS BY
- SKYWALKER, WHOOSH - METALLIC PIECES FLY BY
- SKYWALKER, WHOOSH - SYNTHESIZED JET FLY BY
- SoundDogs, Train: Trains - Freight Cars Coupling Impact - MCU - Bg Engine Noise, Also Rattles, Clunks, Squeaks, & Creaks, All Coupling Related, Several Ambiance Changes (2nd impact only, low volume; heard once when the Circus Train's locomotive starts to wheelslip, and pull the rest of the consist out of the rail yard.)
- Sound Ideas, BELL, CHURCH - RINGING
- Sound Ideas, BOING, CARTOON - HOYT'S BOING (Heard when a monster truck crashes into a curb. This is the first DreamWorks Animation to use the sound effect.)
- Sound Ideas, CARTOON, ELEPHANT - TRUMPETING, ANIMAL 01
- Sound Ideas, CARTOON, HORN - SHORT HORN TOOT, MEDIUM (low volume)
- Sound Ideas, CARTOON, SNAP - LARGE RUBBER SNAP 02
- Sound Ideas, CARTOON, TWANG - WOBBLING SAW BLADE TWANG 02
- Sound Ideas, DRAWBRIDGE - GEAR AND CHAIN MECHANISM MOVING DRAWBRIDGE, CASTLE 01
- Sound Ideas, HIT, CARTOON - BIG HEAD BONK
- Sound Ideas, HIT, CARTOON - BRAKE DRUM AND BULB HORN HIT
- Sound Ideas, HIT, CARTOON - COCONUT HIT 02
- Sound Ideas, HIT, CARTOON - KABONG
- Sound Ideas, HIT, METAL - DULL METAL IMPACT, CARTOON 03
- Sound Ideas, HIT, METAL - METAL SPIKE HIT
- Sound Ideas, HIT, METAL - PIPE HIT
- Sound Ideas, HORN, BICYCLE - BULB HORN: SINGLE HONK, TOY
- Sound Ideas, HOSPITAL - HEART MONITOR: MONITORING, CONSTANT BEEPS (low volume)
- Sound Ideas, MAGIC - BOWED CYMBAL 01
- Sound Ideas, RICOCHET - CARTOON RICCO 01/Sound Ideas, ZIP, CARTOON - RICCO ZIP OUT 01
- Sound Ideas, SLIDE, CARTOON - FIDDLE SLIDE UP 01
- Sound Ideas, SQUEAK, METAL - LARGE METAL OBJECT ROLLING, SCI FI (Used for the squeaking of the wheels on the Circus Train's cars when it starts to leave the rail yard.)
- Sound Ideas, TWANG, CARTOON - METALLIC RULER VIBRATE
- Sound Ideas, WIND - MAGIC WHIRLWIND, FANTASY (Heard briefly during the Circus Fireworks scene; need verifications.)
- Sound Ideas, XYLOPHONE - XYLOPHONE: QUICK GLISS DOWN, CARTOON, MUSIC, PERCUSSION
- Sound Ideas, ZIP, CARTOON - KEEN ZIP IN
- Sound Ideas, ZIP, CARTOON - QUICK WHISTLE ZIP OUT
- Sound Ideas, ZIP, CARTOON - QUICK WHISTLE ZIP OUT, HIGH
- Stuka Siren (Unknown sirens used as the plane/helicopter drops. It could be Sound Ideas, CARTOON, AIRPLANE - PROP PLANE POWER DIVE SCREAM, TWO TIMES or Sound Ideas, CARTOON, AIRPLANE - PROP PLANE POWER DIVE SCREAM.)
- Unknown Sound Effects Library, Train Whistle 28 (Debut; used as the whistle on the "Fur Power" circus train's locomotive.)
- Wilhelm Scream (4th scream only; can be heard in a lower volume.)