The octopus villain in Penguins of Madagascar is named Dave.
Dave is the central antagonist of the 2014 spin-off. He is an intelligent octopus who blames the penguins for taking attention away from him during his earlier life in zoos. His plan targets penguins around the world and drives the film’s espionage-themed plot.
The character gives the movie a different type of villain from the main Madagascar films. Instead of a rival zoo animal or a human authority figure, Dave uses disguises, technology, and a personal grudge to pursue the penguin team.
Dave is voiced by John Malkovich in the English-language version. He should not be confused with Chantel DuBois, the animal-control officer from Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, or with the directors and writers whose names are sometimes shortened in film listings.