New Delhi: Google 'Madagascar' and two of your top three results will not be the country that lies off the coast of southeast Africa, but the DreamWorks Animation movie franchise. The first two installments have earned more than $1.1 billion worldwide. The third, 'Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted,' opens in theaters on June 8, the beginning salvo in a global release strategy that continues throughout the summer. A spinoff movie for the films' stealthy commando penguins is currently being developed, too.
The rainbow-colored wigs that are being used to promote 'Madagascar 3' " a gag taken from a dance in the film by Marty the Zebra (Chris Rock) " have appeared everywhere from the Cannes Film Festival's prestigious red carpet (where the film premiered last month) to the winners circle of the recent FedEx 400 NASCAR race, where victor Jimmie Johnson donned the wig.
How could an island nation possibly compete with that?
If the expanse of the 'Madagascar' franchise appears global, that's not a coincidence. There's no bigger proponent of the international movie marketplace than DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg. And in the 3-D 'Madagascar 3', he has a globe-trotting, European road trip that suits both the film's story and its worldwide box office appeal....
more
04:04 PM, Jun 07, 2012
How To Train Your Dragon is the most enjoyable animation film since Pixar's Up. ... 
