This 12-minute short is a spin-off set before the events of the first Madagascar film, focusing on the four spy-trained penguins living at the Central Park Zoo.

The short premiered in theaters on October 7, 2005, screening alongside the stop-motion feature Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.

Shortly after its theatrical run, the short became a bonus feature on the Madagascar DVD and VHS release on November 15, 2005.

It was also included on later DVD editions of Shrek and Shrek 2, all released on the same date, November 15, 2005.

The short was later released on Blu-ray on September 23, 2008, as a bonus feature attached to Madagascar.

Composer James Dooley scored the short after being asked to do so because he had already written all the music for the penguins in the feature-length Madagascar.

Additional voices in the short include several actors from the main Madagascar cast, such as Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, and Jada Pinkett-Smith.

The character Nana, voiced by Elisa Gabrielli, is credited in the film simply as 'The Old Lady'.