Matt Groening (creator of "The Simpsons") was happy with the episode because it reminded him of the very first episode ("Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire"). He also liked the references to "One Hundred and One Dalmatians". He liked the movie when he was a child and said it made him want to learn about animation and cartoons. In one part of the movie, the puppies can be seen watching cartoons on a television screen. Groening said that made him love how cartoons work and made him create a fictional television show in "The Simpsons" called "The Itchy & Scratchy Show".