This is also the first episode to use the digital ink and paint as a proof of concept, which led to the decision to have "The Simpsons"' animation converted from traditional cel to digital ink and paint. It was a good episode to test technique on due to the cloning sequences which required many different layers of animation for each of the clones. According to Al Jean, in the dub for the scene where Homer is being cloned Matt Groening said "let's just throw a couple screams in there", and sound archive locator Norm supplied them. The effect coming out of the hammock is meant to resemble a Xerox light. This was one of two years that did not feature special Halloween names of "The Simpsons" staff in the credits. Al Jean said that to some people, the names took up so much space across the screen that the result was a "green smear". They were brought back due to popular demand. The image of Homer strangling Homer was pitched in the writers room by one of the audio commentators.