Madagascar was the first Madagascar film to feature the song “I Like to Move It.”
The 2005 film uses the song during King Julien’s energetic dance sequence after the zoo animals arrive on Madagascar. The track was originally written and recorded by Reel 2 Real, with vocals by The Mad Stuntman, and the film helped introduce it to a new family audience through the character’s memorable performance.
Sacha Baron Cohen voices King Julien in the original English version and performs the character’s dialogue around the musical number. The song became one of the most recognizable pieces of music associated with the franchise.
Later Madagascar projects reused or referenced the song, which can make the first appearance easy to misremember. Its original franchise debut is in Madagascar, not in the second or third main film.