File:Skipper.PNGSkipper, also known as Joe - The leader of the group. He seems to be rounder than the rest of the penguins. He is good at barking out orders, naming plans and slapping. He is voiced by the director of the movie, Tom McGrath, who based his portrayal of Skipper's voice on Charlton Heston.
Kowalski - The smartest and tallest of the penguins, sometimes referred to as "Lt. Kowalski" (usually in the commentaries with the penguins). He forms plans for the group and usually takes notes for Skipper. He is voiced by Chris Miller.
Private, also known as Grean - Distinguishable by his googly eyes and soft British accent, he is the youngest of the group. Good at cracking codes, he is often slapped by the Skipper. He also takes notes for the Skipper. In the Christmas Caper short, he was the one captured by the old lady. His name is probably a reference to his 'rank' among the group of penguins and a play on the movie Saving Private Ryan (also from DreamWorks). He is often viewed as the most expendable of the group. He is voiced by Christopher Knights.
Rico - Psychotic knife wizard and explosives expert. Rico displays a certain talent for the Culinary arts, able to render a raw fish into sushi in mere seconds and to carve a block of ice into the shape of a Christmas tree. Can store various items in his stomach (like the dynamite stick in the Christmas Caper short). Also seems to be an excellent swimmer (he is the only penguin seen swimming). He has dark circles under his eyes. He had a mohawk and scar on his face in the Christmas Caper (which generates some inconsistency as the short took place before the actual movie as they are all still at the zoo, and he did not have any scar on the movie). The only real words known in his vocabulary are "Eggnog", "Hai" (Japanese) and "Ka-boom." He is voiced by John DiMaggio.
Organization
The Penguins act like they are either spies, Special Forces or Navy SEALs. They are all skilled in combat of all kinds, though it is unknown where they learned it. They seem to think they are part of a secret government agency. How they end being in the zoo is summed up by the quote, "We don't belong here, It's all some kind of whacked out conspiracy." Skipper and the rest of the crew want to return to Antarctica (though this goal is destroyed when they reach Antarctica and discover that it is a frozen wasteland with the quote, "Well, this sucks"). According to "Penguin Chat" (a special feature, which shows scenes with the penguins and commentaries by Skipper, Kowalski, and Private), they reclaim Madagascar as "New Antarctica" and discuss a plan to take it over by getting rid of the old regime and placing in a puppet government, under their control. This seems to be a satire or a parody of the Central Intelligence Agency and of spies, who are often rumored to be involved in various plots and coup attempts.
On the Madagascar DVD, the penguins provide their own commentary on their scenes. When Private is struggling to operate a computer, Skipper comments, "You told me you knew Linux, Private!". This is a reference to Tux, a penguin who is the mascot for the Linux operating system.
Skipper makes an appearance in the Shrek the Third video game located in Hook's Ship. If the player collects the second souvenir mug, he will need to destroy some crates. Skipper is hidden in one of those crates and will recite the same line he told Marty when the penguins were escaping from the zoo.
Quotes
She didn't see anything... (Skipper)
Hoover Dam! We're still in New York! Abort! Dive! Dive! Dive! (Skipper)
Grand Coulee Dam! (Skipper)
Shiitake Mushrooms! (Skipper)
No more Mr. Cute and Cuddly. (Skipper)
Eggnog at 2100 hours, writing our names in the snow at 2105... (Skipper)
He's one of us, men. You all know the penguin credo. (Skipper) Never bathe in hot oil and Bisquick? (Kowalski)
[Eats some snow] Mmm...adrenaline, sweat and sardines. These tracks are fresh, sir! (Kowalski)
Captain's log, embarking in hostile environment. Kowalski, we need to win the hearts and minds of the natives. Rico, we'll need special tactical equipment. (Skipper)
We're gonna face extreme peril. Private probably won't survive. (Skipper)
We've been ratted out, boys. (Skipper)
Holy Butterball! (Skipper)
You, higher mammal! Can you read? (Skipper)
You, quadruped! Sprechen sie Englisch? (Skipper)
Can you keep a secret, my monochromatic friend? (Skipper)
Cute and cuddly, boys ...cute and cuddly. (Skipper)
Skipper! Don't you think that we should tell them that the boat ran out of gas? (Private) Nah, just smile and wave, boys. Smile and wave. (Skipper)
Where are the people? (Gloria) We killed them and ate their livers. (Skipper)
We don't belong here, it's just not natural. It's all some kind of whacked out conspiracy! (Skipper)
Africa! That ain't gonna fly! (Skipper)
The kitty loves the fishy! (Skipper)
Let's get this tin can turned around! (Skipper)
Well boys, it's gonna be ice cold sushi for breakfast! (Skipper)
10 o'clock men, Blend! Blend! Blend! (Skipper)
What comes down must go up! (Skipper)
[Crashing through window] Santa Claus has come to town! (Skipper)
And me, Skipper? (Private)
Quadruped, canine, two o'clock! (Skipper)
We're digging to Antarctica! (Private)
Rico, enough with the dynamite (Skipper)
Hey, I know you two! Where's that psychotic lion and our monochromatic friend? (Skipper)
