The series is a prequel to the 2005 Madagascar film, depicting Alex, Marty, Gloria and Melman as children living in a rescue habitat at the Central Park Zoo.

Unlike The Penguins of Madagascar and All Hail King Julien, which only featured Alex in guest roles, this series gives all four zoo animals (the Zoosters) main roles.

The show does not feature any appearance from the Penguins, the Lemurs, or the Chimps in their adult forms as seen in the film franchise.

The characters Pickles and Dave, a tomboyish chimpanzee and her deaf brother who communicates through American Sign Language, are based on Phil and Mason from the movies.

The series was first announced for Hulu and Peacock on January 17, 2020, and premiered on both platforms on September 7, 2020.

The show has aired internationally on several networks, including Family Jr. in Canada, TiJi in France, DreamWorks Channel Asia, HBO Max in Latin America, Stan in Australia, and Cartoon Network's Cartoonito block in Turkey.