Character from Madagascar by DreamWorks Animation
Mason's mute chimpanzee partner — the reader, the signer, the lighter-colored and more temperamental of the two, communicating entirely through ASL and still getting his point across.
Phil doesn't speak aloud. He communicates through American Sign Language, which Mason translates. He also signs in his sleep, which Kowalski once described as either impressive or unsettling, depending on what he was signing. He's the reader of the pair — the one who can actually parse written text while Mason handles the verbal output. Their system works well. Phil is also the more temperamental of the two: where Mason tends toward refined patience, Phil is more direct in his reactions, including about the things that deserve to be reacted to directly. He's smart, practical, and has good judgment. He and Mason together bought a circus, which was a reasonable thing to do with casino winnings if you are a chimpanzee.
A lighter-colored chimpanzee than Mason, slightly messier in bearing, with the comfortable scruffiness of the Oscar to Mason's Felix. Uses American Sign Language for all communication. Expressive hands that move constantly when he has something to say, which is often.