I have a Dreamworks Madagascar: A Little Wild Review because it is now streaming on Hulu! Yes the crew is back. Marty, Alex, Melman and Gloria are back! This is a show that you will not want to miss with your little ones. Yes, it is very easy to get hooked on it. And, not only is it super fun, it is also packed with loads of goodness. Last week I had the pleasure of interviewing Executive Producers Johanna Stein and Co-Executive Producer Dana Starfield on Dreamworks Animation Madagascar: A Little Wild. Read on to get my Madagascar: A Little Wild Review as well.
Madagascar: A Little Wild Exclusive Interview
During our zoom meeting, we did all agree on how much we love the Madagascar franchise and how adorable this new series is.
I always try to talk about inclusion, but it is clear that it is crucial for the team to have it. They even have an expert consult with them to ensure everything is represented correctly. That said, we did talk about all these other points:
New York As A Character
The series goes beyond the zoo itself. The ladies shared that although they can’t represent New York so faithfully, they went with a representation of the city. So, they went for core basic ideas and the emotions that tied them to the city. It is all about New York through a child’s eyes.
The Young Side of the Character
To re-imagine the characters as children is a great opportunity to lean into their quirks. Because they are kids, there is a sense of misunderstanding the world and naivete so when you put that into these characters, it is very forgiving. It also makes for staying away from certain themes or dynamics.
What Character Do You Relate to The Most
The team relates to Marty as in the fact that they all have attention to detail, do their homework are type A. They all have a bit of Gloria in them. Dana shares that Alex has some inner wisdom that he brings to the table because of his sense of “I am who I am”.
Adding to the Zoo Crew
“Well, we’ve sort of gotten our dream. We are growing the universe,” Stein said hesitantly. “So I guess the answer is, ‘We’re doing a lot of exciting ones, and because we placed this in our rescue habitat, we’ve got this kind of ragtag group who are coming in and out from different scenarios and kind of gives a fun aspect.”
“We have talked about different kinds of animals, different sizes to represent the diversity in the animal world because that helps us represent the diversity in the real world. So we have leaned into that idea. So you will be seeing—we’ll always have our core four, but they’re gonna mix them, our friends…I don’t want to give away too much.”
How Are Topics Determined?
We found out that, the team focusses on themes. They like to talk about things that are relevant to humans and look for key concepts that translate to kids. In the end, they are the ones learning about their tenacity or boundaries; for example.
“I think something that’s actually worked really nicely for us is going around and saying like, ‘This happened to me as a kid, and I’ll never forget it and it’s traumatized me,’ or something that really stood out with us, and we say, ‘Okay, what is the version of that in our story’?” Starfield said.
“We make sure that any story has a very kid relatable analog. This is a metaphor for us. Dana was saying, ‘I know what it feels like to get in an argument with my friend. I know exactly what that feels like!’ So we’re very mindful of as fun and authentic as this story may be. If a kid can’t relate to that feeling—if a person can’t relate to that feeling—it’s not working. So that’s our guiding principle,” Stein said.
Madagascar: A Little Wild Review
What I appreciated the most about Little Wild it s that it appeals to all ages at home. Yes, even the teens and tweens sat through a few episodes. I attribute this to the fact that while the show is repetitive (like all littles shows are) it does it in a different way every time. Added to that, is the fun adventures the zoo crew has. In particular, I am captivated by the concerted effort to make the show all-inclusive. Yes, inclusion shines brilliantly. After all, it is set in New York. At every turn, you see different types of people in The Big Apple, right? But, it is more than colors. You can’ miss the characters that sign ASL! Fantastic. Finally, the lessons. The show really covers much ground and helps kids. I feel each episode opens kids’ minds. Each episode also offers solutions and speaks up to the children instead of talking down to them. Get ready for fun adventures, and fantastic lessons. This is a show that will allow for plenty of conversations with your kids!
About Madagascar: A Little Wild
Inspired by the blockbuster franchise, Madagascar, reunite with the fun-loving Zoo Crew – Alex, Marty, Melman and Gloria – as they navigate the Central Park Zoo and the big city in the all-new series DreamWorks Madagascar: A Little Wild, debuting on Hulu and Peacock
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