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| “ | I'm better looking, I have better hair, I'm deceivingly smart. And I want everyone to do what I say. | „ |
| ~ Makunga explaining about why he wants to be Alpha Lion – his most famous quote. |
| “ | Makunga: Alakay, yeah! The prodigal son returns! This is perfect! Teetsi: I thought you hated Zuba. Makunga: No, I do. I do. I hate him. Oh, I do. And I'm gonna use Alakay, yes! I'm gonna use him to get rid of Zuba once and for all! |
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| ~ Makunga plotting his evil plan to overthrow his rival, Zuba by using the latter's son, Alex to overthrow him. |
Makunga is one of the two main antagonists (alongside Nana) of DreamWorks' 17th full-length animated feature film, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, the second installment of the Madagascar franchise.
He is a power-hungry and devious lion who seeks to overthrow his rival, Zuba, for himself to become the new Alpha Lion of the savanna in Africa. When Zuba's long-lost son, Alakay/Alex, returns to his family after being distant from them for several years, Makunga decides to use it as an opportunity to manipulate Alex, so that ye can finally take the Alpha Lion position. He is also Teetsi's boss, as well as Zuba and Alex's arch-nemesis.
He was voiced by Alec Baldwin, who also played Dennis in The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, President Donald Trump in Saturday Night Live, Fred Frenger Junior in Miami Blues, Blake in Glengarry Glen Ross, Kennebrew Beauregard in BlacKkKlansman, Mark Cordell in The Juror, Jed Hill in Malice, and Larry Quinn in The Cat in the Hat. In the film's video game adaptation, he was voiced by the late John Cygan, who also played Hedley in Treasure Planet, and voiced Solidus Snake in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.
Personality[]
Makunga is an egotistical and power-hungry lion, who seeks to dominate others without bothering to hide his selfish nature. Despite appearing friendly and jovial towards others, he has no respect for animals, including his rival Zuba, whom he challenges frequently and happily mocks for having a "pathetic excuse of a son," provoking a fight. Makunga's tremendous self-confidence is also demonstrated, highlighting his narcissism as he quotes that he has "better hair and is deceivingly smart". He also freely expresses himself as a tyrant who aims to control others by announcing with pride that he wants to become the alpha lion because he wants other animals to follow his orders.
Despite being narcissistic and extremely self-centered, Makunga exhibits remarkable intelligence and slyness, as he often resorts to deception to get what he want. His cunning and manipulation are demonstrated when he deceived Alex into taking on Teetsi, a much more powerful lion, knowing that Alex would lose, tricking the former into thinking that it was a dance fight. This caused Zuba to resign as Alpha Lion, allowing Makunga to take his place.
When Makunga becomes the Alpha Lion, he struggles a lot, due to his incompetence and creates ridiculous solutions to the drought, like fighting for water or leaving the reserve. His ego ultimately leads to his downfall when Alex tricks him into accepting Nana's purse as a gift. After Zuba releases Nana, she gives that pompous Makunga a beating comeuppance that he truly deserves, making him a character that was meant to be disliked.
Appearance[]
Makunga is an overweight African lion with dark tan fur, green eyes, and a black mane with a gray streak in it. At the beginning of Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, his mane used to be completely black.
Biography[]
Makunga is seen at the beginning of the film, watching Zuba training his young son, Alakay, who is more interested in dancing, much to Zuba's dismay. Makunga reveals himself and says that it's disappointing that Alakay isn't growing up the way that Zuba also wants him. Zuba is annoyed and questions Makunga if he's challenging him again. Makunga replies that once he becomes Alpha Lion, Zuba will have more time to spend with his "pathetic excuse of a son". Zuba asks Makunga why he wants to become the Alpha Lion to which he responds "I'm better looking, I have better hair. I'm deceivingly smart. And I want everyone else to do what I say." While Zuba fights Makunga (and defeats him rather easily), Alakay wanders off, and he gets captured by poachers, eventually ending up in New York and being renamed Alex.
Years later, an adult Alex and his friends wind up in Africa, and Alex reunites with his parents. Makunga thinks of using him as an advantage to finally become the Alpha lion. At Alex's welcoming ceremony, Makunga suddenly stops the celebration and reminds Zuba that Alex must perform the Rite of Passage in order to be officially accepted into the pride. Alex, believing it to be a breeze, accepts the opportunity.
As Alex prepares for the Rite of Passage, Makunga comes along and tricks him into choosing Teetsi as his opponent. As Alex "fights" with Teetsi (mistaking it to be a dance battle), Makunga laughs, saying to himself, "This is even better than I thought!". When Alex loses the fight, Makunga dethrones Zuba as Alpha lion, banishes him, Alex and Florrie, and releases his secret weapon for Alex named the Hat of Shame (which is a coconut shell decorated with a whole bunch of fruit at the top), it works when its wearer can be embarrassed forever. When the watering hole is dried, Makunga suggests that the animals would have to fight for the water. When the animals object to this insane proposal, Makunga tells them if they are thirsty, they will have to look for water off of the reserve. The animals object to this notion as well, knowing that poachers are outside the reserve. However, Alex steps in and states that he himself went off the reserve and survived. He then states that he himself will leave the reserve to bring the water back. While the other animals are amazed at Alex's bravery, Makunga laughs derisively at him and sarcastically suggests to the young lion that he do a rain dance. Determined to prove the pompous Makunga wrong, Alex sets off on his quest, and Makunga continues to insult and mock him as he leaves. Realizing that Makunga has no regard for anybody but himself, the animals criticize his leadership and demand Zuba back, and Makunga finally realizes that becoming the alpha lion wasn't really worth getting excited about because he's not really "deceivingly smart" like he acted like he was.
Alex and his friends soon learned that a couple of tourists (led by Nana) created a dam that dried up the watering hole in the first place, so they managed to destroy it, thus the water is finally returned to the reserve. Although the other animals are praising Alex and his family for retrieving the water, Makunga refuses to surrender his authority by stating that none of it changes anything. However, Alex and Zuba trick Makunga by giving Nana's handbag to him as a "token of appreciation". After Makunga compliments the handbag and tells Alex and Zuba are still banished, they release the old lady. When Nana sees Makunga holding her purse, she proceeds to attack him as she kicks him in the crotch, stomps on his foot, whacks his paw with a ruler, gives him a wet willy, burns his arm and spanks him before dragging him away by the ear as the other animals in the reserve begin to rejoice happily, ending his position as a alpha lion for good. Zuba reclaims his Alpha Lion position back, and he shares it with Alex.
It's unknown what happened to Makunga afterwards. But according to the DVD commentary, it was revealed that Nana brought him to New York in a kitty cage, meaning that he was held in captive by Nana, and that he became her pet.
Quotes[]
| “ | Makunga: It's so disappointing when they don't grow up the way you want them to. Zuba: Makunga... You're not challenging me again, are you? Makunga: Look on the bright side, Zuba. After I defeat you and take over as alpha lion, you'll have so much more time to spend with your "pathetic excuse of a son". Zuba: Before I kick your butt, let me ask you; Why do you even want to become the alpha lion? Makunga: I'm better looking, I have better hair, I'm deceivingly smart, and I want everyone else to do what I say. Zuba: Ugh... Makunga: We fight on three. One... Zuba: (To Alex) Pay attention, Alakay. Daddy gonna show you how it's done. Makunga: TWO, THREE! |
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| ~ Makunga challenging Zuba to a fight to become an alpha lion, also his first words. |
| “ | This is even better than I thought! | „ |
| ~ Makunga laughing as Alex dances in front of Teetsi. |
| “ | Makunga: Oh, no, this is horrible! Alakay has failed the test! Who would have ever imagined that today Zuba would have to banish... his own son? Florrie: Zuba, no! Makunga: Zuba, yes! Sadly, the alpha lion must cast out all failures. |
„ |
| ~ Makunga sees that Alex has "failed" the test |
| “ | Teetsi! Get the hat. As your new leader, I hereby banish Alakay. He shall wear this Hat of Shame and leave the watering hole for a thousand years or life! which ever comes last. | „ |
| ~ Makunga tells Teetsi to get the Hat of Shame and he banishes Alex from the pride. |
| “ | Sorry, folks, but life isn't fair. I'm in charge now! | „ |
| ~ Makunga. |
| “ | Well, well, well, well, well. You know, Zuba, if I remember correctly, you quit the pride, and you were kicked out. So don't think for an instant that this changes anything. | „ |
| ~ Makunga seeing Zuba and Alex returning from off the reserve. |
| “ | I think this will go very nicely for me when I go out hiking. But I'm afraid you're still banished. | „ |
| ~ Makunga last words to Alex before he gets beaten up by Nana. |
Relationships[]
Allies[]
- Teetsi - Minion
Enemies[]
- Zuba - Rival and arch-nemesis
- Florrie
- Alakay/Alex - Second arch-nemesis and heroic counterpart
- Nana - Abuser and presumed owner
- Every animal in Kenya
Trivia[]
- Despite being one of Alex's more personal enemies, Makunga is actually the least evil main antagonist of the Madagascar trilogy. While the Fossas, the main antagonists of the first film, and Chantel DuBois, the main antagonist of Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted, were genuine threats, Makunga was just simply a pompous jerk who, despite his trickery, never went as far as to try to kill the main protagonists, with the exception of Alex and Zuba.
- Additionally, Makunga is the only main antagonist of the Madagascar films who doesn't meet or interact with any of the movie trilogy's other main characters: Marty, Melman, Gloria, the Penguins, and the Lemurs. Alex is the only one whom he meets and interacts with.
- If Penguins of Madagascar: The Movie counts as a fourth film, Dave would've been the second main antagonist who doesn't meet or interact with Marty, Melman, Gloria, and the Lemurs. The Penguins don't count because Dave met and interacted with them in the spinoff sequel.
- Makunga serves as a dark reflection of Alex. They are both selfish and neglectful towards the start of the film, with Alex caring only about his own image than his own best friend, Marty's feelings, and Makunga caring only about being the Alpha Lion and getting what he wants. However, Alex does eventually realize his mistakes. And during the events of Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, it's proven by the fact that he has acknowledged that he wasn't a very good friend to Marty, even before they left New York City. And instead of caring about himself, Alex decided to pay more attention to his other friends' feelings rather than how everything that's fame-related affects him. Makunga, on the other hand, is an egotistical jerk who cares only about himself and not any of the animals that he had ruled over. Makunga serves an example of what Alex would've become if he let his selfish personality get the better of him, and hadn't learned that his family and friends are very important to him.
- Despite sharing the main antagonist role with Nana in Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Makunga doesn't interact with her until the climax of the story.
- Makunga's name means "crazy" in Swahili, befitting his power-hungry and egomaniacal personality.
- In a hint of irony, his arch-nemesis' names, Alex and Alakay (his birth name), are very similar to the first name of his voice actor, Alec Baldwin.
- Makunga is inspired by Scar, who is the main antagonist of The Lion King franchise.
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 Villains
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