CHRIS ROCK: VOICE OF MARTY THE ZEBRA

You are back as Marty (Zebra) in Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. What do you have to say about it?

People still love the first Madagascar. They just ate it up. Madagascar is probably the only thing about me that my kids brag about to their friends. I often hear them telling their friends: “My daddy is the zebra. My daddy is the zebra.” So, it’s just a good thing. I don’t know what else to say. It’s just, never anything bad from Madagascar. It’s just the gift that keeps giving.

How did kids react to you after the release of Madagascar?

Oh it’s always amazing to see kids react. When I go to like, you know, to a little birthday party or some mall, kids are always like, “Can you just say ‘Crack-a-lacking?’ And, I have to just say ‘Crack-a-lacking!’ and they go hee-hee-hee, and they just start giggling and run off.

So how do you feel coming back for the sequel?

I’m elated. I can’t wait to do the third one and the fourth and the fifth. I thought the movie warranted a sequel. I thought people, you know, wanted to see what else happens to these characters. They really loved the characters. You know, talking animals, you can’t really do bad with talking animals, man…. Zoos…. The wild. You can’t, you know, you can’t beat talking animals.

What’s your character Marty’s life like in the new movie?

In this movie Marty’s journey isn’t about exploring differences so much as similarities. This time Marty gets to Africa, and he’s kind of like, you know, the adopted kid who gets to be around his own people for the first time (laughs). Back home, Marty always dreamed of being in the wild, roaming with his kind and now he gets a chance to do it. It’s like, you know, the adopted kid that finally meets his real family. And at first he acts up and wants to be around them all the time, but then he kind of settles into it and realises he has two families.

And how does Marty feel when he sees hundreds of Zebras for the first time?

It’s like, if your best friend starts acting like you — dressing like you do, talking like you. At first, it’s probably an ego booster, right, imitation and flattery, whatever. At first, Marty is kind of happy that he can just fit in. But then after a while, he’s kind of sad ’cause he’s not as special as he used to be. It’s kind of like when I’m around Chris Tucker and Dave Chappelle. At first, I’m really happy. Then I’m going, “Wait, no one’s paying attention to me.”

BEN STILLER: VOICE OF ALEX, THE LION

Madagascar was an immensely popular movie. What according to you made it so popular?

I think people simply loved the characters of the movie and they could somewhere relate with the characters. It was fun to see friendship among different animals and all the little, little guys like the penguins, it was quite adorable. And you know, even characters like Mort (mouse) were also liked. Everybody really seemed to have their own favourites. And kids just loved it and they could connect with different characters.

What do you have to say about the characters’ journey in Madagascar 2?

In the first one, everybody was sort of trying to figure out how to get home. And they were sort of fish out of water. And then when they get to Africa, they’re all sort of feeling connected to who they are and discovering things about themselves, so it is a different sort of feeling.

What you think of your colleagues David Schwimmer and Jada Pinkett Smith as Melman and Gloria respectively?

David Schwimmer is so funny as Melman, he’s just amazing in that character. He always makes me laugh. And Jada as Gloria is simply fabulous, she has some great stuff with her new suitor in this film. And that whole subplot between her and Melman according to me is really one of the strongest elements in the movie.

Your character Alex reunites with his family, can you elaborate on that?

Yes, Alex actually meets his mom and dad. He never imagined he would meet his parents as he thought he had lost them as he was raised in a zoo. It’s amazing to see Alex connect with his parents. He is told about his childhood and where he slept and all those things that connect him with something that he’d not been in touch for all these years. So, it sort of, you know, gets him back in touch with his inner lion.

The late Bernie Mac voiced for Zuba, your father in Madagascar 2. What memories do you have of the late actor?

He was an amazing presence and obviously a really, really funny guy. It’s so sad and unfortunate that he is not with us any more. I felt such a connection with him, though I didn’t dub with him in the studio, but I would hear his dialogue and they would play it back for me. Or I’d look at scenes that we had done together, separately that they played back together. I just loved him in Zuba’s character, and I felt such a connection to him as a dad in the movie. There was warmth that he conveyed so effortlessly through Zuba.

And what do you think of Alec Baldwin, who plays Makunga, the factor contributing to your disappearance?

You know Alec Baldwin is one of a kind. He’s got such a great voice and he’s got such a great sense of humour, and can play sort of the serious nature, but also, you know, gets the comic side of it all. So, it’s great, he is a great guy.

DAVID SCHWIMMER: VOICE OF MELMAN THE GIRAFFE

What’s your character Melman’s life like in the Madagascar sequel?

Well, you will see Melman in some pretty dangerous situations, life-threatening situations. There are some pretty dramatic things that happen to Melman this time around. When he’s sure that the plane they’re on is going to crash, he finally confesses his love for Gloria, who’s sound asleep, unfortunately. Then, all of his self-taught medical knowledge earns him the place of witch doctor to all the other giraffes. And then, the locals tell him that he’s acquired this disease, so he’s completely sure he’s gonna die. And when he thinks his life is over yet again, he volunteers to sacrifice himself to save Gloria and his friends. But he gets over, he conquers a couple of his own fears, so it’s a big kind of event-filled movie for Melman.

So, do we see any change in the character of Melman?

Yes, he has changed a bit but is still a hypochondriac. Away from his regime in the Central Park Zoo, Melman matured a bit in the homeopathic world of Madagascar. Maybe he has just become a little less neurotic. But there are still issues for him to face, namely his affection for Gloria… along with his health.

We hear that Melman encounters a nemesis in Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. Can you tell us a bit about that?

Ah, yes, in this film, Melman has got an arch rival named Moto Moto. And he is a big sexy male hippo who is vying for the affections of Gloria (a hippo). And you know, he’s threatening because he’s a hippo and Melman is a giraffe and Gloria is a hippo again, so there’s a possibility that Gloria would probably go with Moto Moto. But Melman later overcomes the obstacles. (Chuckles)

Did you do any kind of research on giraffe behaviours while dubbing for Melman?

Yes, I actually did do some research on giraffe behaviours and their mannerisms but only during the dubbing of Madagascar. This time for the sequel I did not do any new research. I hope it doesn’t show. (Smiles)

What you have to tell the audiences about the level of humour in Madagascar 2?

I think each of the actors improvised a lot. You know half the material really comes in the moment of improvisation. When you’ve got actors like Chris Rock, Ben Stiller and Sacha Baron Cohen and others, you know, riffing, then I can’t wait to see what’s gonna end up on the screen. It’s gonna be a lot of fun.

So you must have had fun working again on the sequel of Madagascar?

Absolutely, I had great fun working on the movie. I think one of the great things about animation movies is that everyone gets to really play and have fun. And it’s kind of freeing, you know, when it’s not your face up there and you kind of lose all your self consciousness, in a way, and you just, go for it. I truly relished the chance to return to the character of Melman.

JADA PINKETT SMITH: VOICE OF GLORIA THE HIPPO

What do you have to say on your return to the Madagascar sequel as Gloria?

Well, I always had such a good time with Gloria. And it allows me to be very playful. I was really very enthusiastic to return to Madagascar. It’s a very special movie as it’s the first movie of mine that my kids and I could actually watch together. So, it was quite a joy on many different levels.

And what do you have to say about Gloria and her role in the Madagascar sequel?

Gloria the hippo has no issues with her self-image. She’s well aware of who she is…..she’s self-confident, sassy and sweet. I will say that people will be very surprised at some of the twists and turns in the relationships in this particular Madagascar. So, I think they’ll be in for quite a little surprise.

Can you tell us about the twists and turns in Gloria’s life?

Well, all I can say is that a big old muscular hot hippo named Moto Moto is Gloria’s new love interest in Madagascar 2. He’s the hottest hippo with this old deep voice. All the ladies love him and he’s in love with Gloria.

So who has voiced for Moto Moto?

Recording artist Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas. Casting Will.i.am for Moto Moto was just perfect, ’cause he’s got this old deep voice, you know. So, I thought he was just a perfect, classic fit.

We hear that your daughter Willow has voiced for baby Gloria, is it true? Tell us how was it working with her?

Yes, that’s very much true, my daughter has voiced for baby Gloria. I got a phone call asking if little Willow would be the voice of baby Gloria. And she loves Madagascar. And it was so funny, because she was asking me, “Now, Mommy, how do you do that? Like how is it that your voice is on the hippo and duh-duh-duh?” So, it was really cool that she got to kind of, you know, work through the process herself. The recording sessions proved to be a playground for fun.

Have you ever been to Africa? And how would you describe Africa?

Yes, I have been to Africa and I am awestruck. Africa is a very hard place to describe. It’s almost more of a feeling that it gives you. I mean, it’s magnificently beautiful — I actually went on a safari. My husband Will (Smith) says it better than I ever can when he says, “God visits every place else in the world… but actually lives in Africa.” And that’s the only way I can really explain it — it’s very spiritual, and you just feel very rooted.

What would you like your audience to learn from Gloria?

Well, I think it’s always important for women to see various images of themselves and understand that it’s all about what you project from the inside. Gloria has so much confidence and really just loves who she is. I would hope the film sends a message to young girls that it’s about how you perceive yourself that’s really important.

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