Meet the man behind Madagascar

http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2008/de ... adagascar/
6:00a.m. 6th December 2008
| By Nathanael Cooper

Madagascar 2: Escape to Africa
If you were to say the name, Jeffrey Katzenberg, to a young child, he or she would probably look at you blankly.

Mention one of the characters that he has been responsible for creating and you will probably find that the child's face lights up with joy.

From Shrek and Princess Fiona, Kung-fu Panda Po to Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra and Gloria the Hippo, Katzenberg is the man behind the thriving DreamWorks studio that has brought us some of the most successful animated films in history.

With every kid in the world looking upon his job with envy, Katzenberg said he realised how fortunate he was.

“I love these movies and love the collaboration of making them,” he said.

“I think I am the luckiest guy in the world. It's just a great gig … I get up every day and thank my lucky stars.”

In Australia recently to promote the release of DreamWorks' latest offering, Madagascar 2: Escape to Africa, Katzenberg said he was excited to be opening the film Down Under.

“I am really proud of the creative team,” he said.

“I feel, as most people do, that they made a better movie. They took a good movie and topped themselves.

“You can count on your hand the number of times that happens in Hollywood.”

Madagascar 2 reintroduces the same characters and the same voices from the original 2005 film, which grossed more than US$500 million at the box office, and Katzenberg expects the sequel to be even more successful.

“Now, the entire creative team, as well as the audience, really knows who the characters are and how the world works,” he said.

“In the second chapter, it allows you to tell a much more complex story.”

In the movie, the four main characters are still in Madagascar.

But, with the help of King Julien, they have managed to secure a plane to take them back to Central Park Zoo.

Unfortunately, their plans go slightly awry and they find themselves in Africa where Alex is reintroduced to his parents, whom he hasn't seen since he was a cub.

While in Africa, each of the characters takes his or her own personal journey and discovers something important, making the movie not just about entertainment but leaving the audience with a message.

It is this depth in the film that Katzenberg is most proud of. “People ask me many times what my favourite scene is in this film,” he said. “Without a question, my favourite moment is when Alex meets for the first time, as an adult, the parents he never knew.

“I FOUND it so emotional. It is very emotional and very evocative and very heartfelt.”

While Katzenberg's role with DreamWorks as the CEO is more of a business one, he is famed for becoming very involved in the studio's projects and that gives him a very exclusive view into the world of animated films.

And it really is no wonder DreamWorks has been so successful under Katzenberg's direction.

He cut his teeth in one of the greatest animation houses in the world. After starting his showbiz career with Paramount, Katzenberg was taken to Disney by Michael Eisner to head up the motion-picture division.

With DreamWorks, it seems everything Katzenberg touches turns to gold with success with films including Shrek, Shark Tale and Over The Hedge.

And his tip for the future of animated films? Well, 3D. “All of our movies will be in 3D.”