The penguin habitat scenes took place on a large and secured indoor set. A massive set piece, made of foam rocks to look like ice, was attached to a large freshwater pool. Both real and computer-generated penguins were used in the film. Several trainers always remained nearby. In many cases, the trainers hid behind the foam rock piles as a precaution or doubled as costumed extras in the scenes. The actors carried food, which helped keep the birds on their marks. The penguins had been raised in captivity and were very comfortable with humans. For scenes in which penguins swim in the pool, trainers guided them into the pool and they swam naturally. The set was air-conditioned to keep the birds cool. Only necessary cast and crew were allowed on set, and they were instructed on the handling of the animals. The noise level was always kept at a minimum.

Cam (Alba) walks through the habitat and feeds the penguins. Later in this scene, she slides backward down some ice and into the penguin pool. A penguin slides down behind her and ends up between her legs, and they both land in the water where other penguins are swimming. This scene was filmed in separate shots. The actress fed the penguins food from their regular diet. A trainer held a real penguin between two buckets (used as markers for the actress' legs) at the top of the ramp, which was secured to the set and disguised with foam rocks to look like ice. The trainer's arms and the buckets were erased from the shot in post-production. A plastic penguin was used for the rest of the scene. The penguins were comfortable swimming with and around the stunt actress for the brief time she was in the pool. Shots were edited together in post-production.

A man sits in the penguin habitat and penguins jump over his legs. This scene was filmed in separate shots. Trainers placed the penguins on their marks around the actor. For the first part of this scene, penguins stood near the actor. The camera cut away and the actor left the area. Trainers then brought in a sandbag to serve as the man's legs, which the penguins were cued to jump over. The appearance of the man's legs was added in to replace the sandbag in post-production.

Penguins surround Cam as she speaks about the habitat to an audience. Cam leaves the stage and the penguins surround her brother. The penguins were placed on their mark by the trainers and allowed to walk around the actors and the area naturally. Trainers retrieved the penguins right after filming.

Cam tends to a couple of penguins who appear to be ill. The penguins were placed on their marks by the trainer. Some nontoxic makeup and extra-downy feathers were applied to the birds to give the appearance they were ill. The birds enjoyed being held and stroked by the actress, and the trainer stood just off-camera to supervise.

Chuck (Cook) falls into the pool, where penguins bite his legs. This scene was filmed in separate shots. The penguins were placed on marks around the pool and reacted naturally to the actor falling into the pool. The penguins then were led into the pool, where they swam around naturally. The actor placed only his legs in the pool and kicked as the penguins swam around. The biting penguins were actually computer-generated.

Cam and a penguin expert walk through the habitat and film the penguins. For this scene, the penguins were placed on their marks by trainers and released to walk through the frame when the cameras started filming. The actors entered and walked through the habitat very carefully. Costumed trainers were also in the scene to assist in herding the penguins to their marks. A fence made of fishing line was put up to contain the penguins in their proper areas.

Chuck and Cam watch the sunset while several penguins stand around in the background. This shot was achieved with computer-generated penguins.

American Humane did not monitor any of the dove or horse action that appeared in the film.