Hippo Gloria? Oh, you mean that sassy, fabulous lady with the curves and the attitude? Yeah, she's totally in 'Madagascar 2'! I rewatched it recently just to soak in her energy—she's one of those characters who steals every scene she's in. From her dramatic flopping into the watering hole to her hilarious dynamic with Melman, Gloria brings this perfect mix of confidence and warmth. The sequel actually gives her more to do, especially with the whole 'returning to Africa' plotline. Her voice actress, Jada Pinkett Smith, nails the delivery, whether Gloria's being sarcastic or unexpectedly tender.
What I love about Gloria in this movie is how she balances the group's chaos. While Alex is freaking out about his dad and Marty's goofing off, she's often the grounded one—well, as grounded as a hippo can be in a dream sequence about salsa dancing. And that scene where she schools the other hippos on body positivity? Iconic. The writers clearly knew they had gold with her character and leaned into it hard.