The Penguins Of Madagascar, A Series Of Contrasts
The animated series The Penguins of Madagascar is not the continuation of the 2005 film. However, this does not mean that it is very distant in its initial approach: animals living extravagant and very funny adventures.
The protagonists are four talking penguins who are confined in a zoo in Central Park, in New York. Each has a personality and must continually cooperate with his group to achieve various goals.
The Penguins of Madagascar was the first GCI animation series produced by Dream Works Animation. It has a total of 81 episodes, spread over three seasons.
Beyond the entertainment provided by this series, what is curious is the contrast that exists between the characters and reality.
The curious contrast between reality and The Penguins of Madagascar
Around the world there are a total of 17 different species of penguins, both in size and in color and weight. Penguin species are found in the southern hemisphere and not just in Antarctica, as is often thought.
The protagonists of the series are believed to belong to the species Pygoscelis antarcticus, known as the ‘chinstrap penguin’. Although because of the size they are on the screen, there are those who believe that the inspiration would come from the blue penguin, which is only about 30 centimeters tall and weighs less than 1 kilogram.
The primates that appear in the Penguins of Madagascar
Ring-tailed lemur
Usually pestering rather than helping, the four water spies are assisted by King Julen and his servants. King Julen is a ring-tailed lemur, very self-centered and lazy, who does not know how to do things himself.
Ring-tailed lemurs are characterized by being the most territorial within the group of lemurs. Also, they tend to spend more time tangling on the ground than climbing trees. This behavior is reflected in the actions of King Julen in the series.
Ring-tailed lemurs usually live in groups of several members (5-25), in a matriarchal society, in which females control all members.
On the other hand, ring-tailed lemurs are very crafty animals, using different tools throughout the day. However, in the series King Julen is a lazy person who avoids activities and hates being touched by his feet.
Aye Aye
In the series, the figure of the aye-aye has nothing to do with the animal in real life. Maurice’s character represents the figure of responsibility and common sense, in contrast to the disorder and chaos of the lemur king.
Maurice is an aye-aye, a medium-sized mammal, typical of the island of Madagascar that is currently in danger of extinction.
In real life, the aye-aye are very light animals and, clearly, in the series Maurice stands out for being heavier than the rest of the characters and for having limited mobility.
The aye-aye have pointed ears and on the hand, they have a long and thin third finger, which they use to search for food. Their diet is based on the consumption of larvae and insects, but they can also feed on fruit, as Maurice does in the series.
Other mammals that appear in the Penguins of Madagascar
Another adventure companion for the spy penguins is the otter Marlene, who acts as an intermediary between the lemurs and the penguins. Marlene is an otter who was born in captivity, and is one of the most intelligent mammals in the world.
Otters are aquatic mammals, both fresh and salt water. Although most species of otters are freshwater. Its habitat is the marshes, forests with water or marshy areas.
These mammals have several layers of fat and an impermeable coat that allow them to tolerate low temperatures. However, they love to spend time lying down in the sun.
Marlene, like otters, has a calm and docile character, which is why she is able to live with various animals. However, in real life there are times when an otter may fight individuals of the same species, usually to delimit territory.
Otters are indispensable animals in the ecosystems in which they live. Unfortunately, some species are in danger of extinction, due to human hunting for their fur.
A series to laugh and find differences
The Penguins of Madagascar is a series that can not only entertain through the plot, but through the contrast it offers compared to animals in real life. It is worth seeing as a family in these days of quarantine and, with it, teaching the little ones all kinds of curiosities about the animals that are portrayed.
Cover: Pinterest.
