Though Kowalski is the smartest of the penguins, he lacks the physical endurance of the other penguins, tiring more easily as seen in A Kipper for Skipper. He's convinced that intellect trumps brute force, which brings him into disagreements with Rico, the muscle of the team. Who are the famous Penguins of Madagascar? The famous penguins from Madagascar are Skipper, Kowalski, Rico, and Private. They gained popularity through their appearances in the "Madagascar" film series and their own spin-off TV show, "The Penguins of Madagascar." uI6kmvC.