Madagascar film franchise has multiple Malay dubs produced for different broadcasters in Malaysia, often featuring regional celebrities and professional voice actors. Available Malay Dubs Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted
(HBO Malaysia): This dub premiered on HBO in Malaysia on August 8, 2013. It was released to coincide with the Eid al-Fitr (Hari Raya Puasa) holiday and, like the Indonesian version, uses regional celebrities for the main characters. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
(Astro): Recorded at Astro Studios, this version aired on the Astro Ceria channel. Merry Madagascar
: A Malay-dubbed version of this 2009 holiday special has been shared within Southeast Asian animation communities. Key Distribution Channels
Astro Ceria: Frequently broadcasts dubbed animated content for children in Malaysia.
HBO Malaysia: Occasions special dubbed premieres for major film releases. madagascar malay dub
Social Platforms: Community-driven voiceovers or clips are often found on platforms like TikTok and BiliBili.
You can see examples of the Malay dubbing style in these clips: Penguin of Madagascar Malay Dub - Full Movie in Malay neotabemono TikTok• Jun 27, 2021 Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted - The Dubbing Database
The genius of the Madagascar Malay dub lies in its casting. The producers did not look for voice impersonators; they looked for established comedians and actors whose personalities matched the chaotic energy of the animals.
1. Alex the Lion (Voiced by Awie) Awie, the legendary frontman of the rock band Wings, was a surprising choice for a vain, show-biz lion. However, his deep, booming, yet charismatic voice gave Alex a bravado that felt uniquely heroic and hilariously narcissistic. His delivery of "Saya suka gerak!" (I like to move it, move it—localized differently) is iconic.
2. Marty the Zebra (Voiced by AC Mizal) AC Mizal is a comedian, singer, and TV host. As Marty, he captured the restless, free-spirited energy of the zebra perfectly. His dialogue about Connecticut ("Konetikot") versus the wild is filled with local slang that wasn't present in the original script, making the character feel like a frustrated Mat Rempit (street racer) stuck in a zoo. Madagascar film franchise has multiple Malay dubs produced
3. King Julien (Voiced by Afdlin Shauki) This is the crown jewel of the dub. Afdlin Shauki (director and comedian) is arguably the reason the Malay dub is better than the English original for local audiences. While Sacha Baron Cohen played Julien as a manic surrealist, Afdlin’s Julien is a Makcik (auntie) stuck in a lemur’s body. He ad-libs pantun (Malay poetic rhymes), scolds Mort in a heavy northern dialect, and his rendition of "I Like to Move It" is less Europop and more Kampung dance-off. It is a masterclass in comedic dubbing.
4. The Penguins (Skipper, Kowalski, Rico, Private) In the Malay dub, the penguins were voiced by a single ensemble of radio DJs from Era FM. They turned the military precision of the penguins into a chaotic kopitiam (coffee shop) conversation, which resonated deeply with local adults watching with their kids.
Nikmati filem animasi kegemaran Madagascar dalam alih suara Bahasa Malaysia rasmi! Saksikan gelagat Alex si singa kota, Marty si zebra yang lari, serta Melman dan Gloria dalam versi komedi tempatan yang penuh lawak. Sesuai untuk tontonan keluarga.
(English: Enjoy the beloved animated film Madagascar in the official Malay dub. Watch Alex the city lion, Marty the runaway zebra, plus Melman and Gloria in a hilarious localized comedy version. Great for family viewing.)
Sequels Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008) and Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012) received Malay dubs, but they failed to capture the magic. Nikmati filem animasi kegemaran Madagascar dalam alih suara
The reason is voice actor consistency. For the sequel, Awie and AC.Mizal were not re-hired due to scheduling conflicts. New actors attempted to mimic their styles but failed. Furthermore, the sequels toned down the local slang to appeal to a wider Indonesian market (where Malay dubs are also played). The result was a "neutral" Malay that felt soulless.
The first film’s dub remains untouchable because it was a product of its time—a small, passionate team in a studio in Shah Alam who were given permission to be weird.
The Malay dub of Madagascar (2005) and its sequels (Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa) have been aired primarily on:
Often, Malay dubs keep original names but use Malay slang: