The gang is leaving Madagascar on their home-made balloon when Julien and his lemur subjects shoot them down. They're actually shooting for the red night goblin. When coal starts raining down, Alex fires the shot that takes down the goblin who turns out to be Santa Claus. The reindeers leave after fighting with the penguins over the cold war between north and south poles. The concussed Santa decides to stay with the lemurs. The gang decides to deliver the gifts themselves pulled by the penguins flying with magic dust.This is a Christmas TV special. The great thing is that the characters are what they are supposed to be. Julien would definitely shoot down Santa Claus. This has all the main Madagascar characters. The penguins have a lot of fun. This is solid work from the family friendly franchise.

I watched this short film at Christmas this year along with countless other films and programmes that feel like they have been made because they have to be for the festive season rather than being a case of someone having a great idea and everyone wanting to do it. The plot is simple – calling him the "Red Goblin", King Julian succeeds in shooting down Santa Claus, meaning that the New Yorkers have to leave the island on Santa's sledge and, with the help of the penguins, make sure that all the presents are delivered and that Christmas is saved. Meanwhile, on the island, an amnesiac Santa joins in the annual celebrations of Julianuary – a festive period where everyone gives the King presents.This TV special is quite amusing but it is not as funny or as clever as the recent Penguins spin-off show and part of the problem is the same problem I have with the films. This is that the main characters are actually not that good as characters. OK, they are almost a necessary evil in terms of the narrative but really time spent with them makes you think you're missing out on something better with the other side characters. The global sleigh ride is amusing but seems a bit cloying and obvious and the film is at its best where we are back on the island with King Julian. These sections have their own "message" but Julian is a great character and these bits are well written with his usual selfish self-importance and produces plenty of good laughs (such as the carol singing bit). The Penguins produce a few good laughs as well but their role doesn't give them much to do and I didn't think they worked as well as they have done elsewhere. Likewise Mort can be relied upon for easy laughs.These good bits do well to carry the film while the main animals go around the world – these bits are quite funny but just not as good as the rest. Ironic then that all the stars are back for these main animals while Cohen didn't do Julian. This is not a problem though because, as with the TV show, Jacobs does a very good job of making the character his own and delivering with timing. Overall Merry Madagascar is an enjoyable little festive offering but this is almost despite of itself. It has the feel of something that was a business decision rather than something everyone wanted to do and, while funny, the presence of the four main characters repeats the problem in the films – the strongest material lies with the supporting characters, not the New Yorkers.

This animated short is about the Madagascar creatures wanting to go back to New York for Christmas, but things get complicated when they meet the amnesic Santa Claus.I find the story quite festive, given the fact that the setting is mostly in Madagascar. I enjoyed watching "Merry Madagascar" more than the regular "Madagascar", because I find the animals less annoying and more fun. The story is squeaky clean, and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. There are even a few one liners for adults, and it did make me laugh. "Julianuary" is a great invention, I hope they will capitalise on this in future "Madagascar"!

The brand new holiday adventure stars everyone's favorite Central Park "zoosters" from Madagascar and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. Merry Madagascar begins when Santa and his sleigh unexpectedly crash-land on the island, giving the jolly gentleman a case of amnesia. So it falls to Alex, Marty, Melman and Gloria -- along with the ever-inventive Penguins -- to deliver the presents and save Christmas. And it doesn't hurt that Santa's Sleigh just might be able to make a little trip to New York City, so they can finally return to their beloved home. But during their appointed rounds, the four re-discover the magic of giving -- and that it is ultimately more important than their own wish to return home. Also included is a long-lasting North Pole/South Pole rivalry between the Penguins and Santa's reindeer, plus magic flying dust and a King Julien-based holiday called "Julienuary."