to work by the scientists. While the scientists battle a rogue mammoth, the group escapes by setting a snowball to launch at the house and climbing into it. At the last second, Gerard sets it for his home under the sea. Gerard swims off when the snowball lands and the three give chase, donning scuba masks (Cowboy simply puts a TV on his head) and swimming after him. They find an underwater version of their house, revealing Gerard and his family wanted the walls to build their own house. The creatures chase the trio off with a group of barracudas, but they come back and trick the creatures into a hole by Horse posing as Santa Claus. They use a sawfish to destroy their house and escape to the surface, but the creatures follow them and attack with swordfish. Steven, his wife, and his animals help fight back. In the process, Steven's house explodes with water and the countryside is flooded. One year later, Gerard's family is an accepted part of the community, and Horse is now a skilled piano player and dating Longray, who throws a surprise birthday party for him in an underwater department store. Cowboy and Indian accidentally set off Horse's birthday present, a giant firework, causing a giant fireworks display that destroys the landscape as the credits roll. Cast Stéphane Aubier as (Cowboy, Max Briquenet, Mr Ernotte) Jeanne Balibar as (Madame Jacqueline Longrée; spelled "Longray" in some English subtitles) Nicolas Buysse as (Sheep, Jean-Paul) François De Brigode as (Sportscaster) Véronique Dumont as (Janine) Bruce Ellison as (Indian) Christine Grulois as (Cow, Student) Frédéric Jannin as (Policeman, Gérard, Brick Delivery Man) Bouli Lanners as (Postman, Simon, Cow) Christelle Mahy as (Chicken) Éric Muller as (Rocky Gaufres, Music Student 1) François Neyken as (Pig) Vincent Patar as (Horse, Mother Atlante) Pipou as (Michel's laugh) Franco Piscopo as (Bear) Benoît Poelvoorde as (Steven) David Ricci as (Donkey, Michel) Ben Tesseur as (Scientist 1) Alexandre von Sivers as (Scientist 2) Production The film was made over the course of 260 days in a studio on the outskirts of Brussels. 1500 plastic toy figures were used during filming. Release The film premiered at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival on 21 May 2009 and was released theatrically on 17 June 2009 in Belgium by Cinéart and on 28 October 2009 in France by Gébéka Films. It was also released on DVD on