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Netflix's Madagascar video reveals the grim truth of New Year's to children

Netflix's Madagascar video reveals the grim truth of New Year's to children

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"Happy new year — it's a year that's new!"

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Parents, if you want to expose your kids to the spectacle of New Year's Eve, consider this Madagascar short from Netflix a very, very concentrated dose.

In just 3 minutes and 15 seconds, "King Julien New Year's Eve Countdown" (tied to the new Netflix kids series All Hail King Julien) manages to teach children about grownup New Year's Eve in a way that's both fun on the surface but awkward when you take a step back and think about it just a little too much. There's the dance music that hits every 2014 music trope over a thumping 4/4 bass — with lyrics that are contractually obligated to say "party" three times each minute and promises that "tonight will be forever." To that, there's the crowds of people awkwardly shuffling about in rhythm. There's the inexplicable flashing lights... where are they coming from, anyway?

julien thinks keytars are cool

Oh, and that one guy wearing the funny hat acting like he's the crowned king of parties? The one doing all the awkward pelvic thrusting and shouting the countdown louder than anyone else? He's there, too — and for poetic justice, we get his "hangover pose" in the last frame of the short:

Kids, this could be you in a decade or two.

If nothing else, it's a chance to try and lie to your kids about what time New Year's Eve actually is — provided you change or remove all other time-telling hardware in the house and the child doesn't grasp how Netflix actually works.