The final scene's blending live action with animation was inspired by the popularity of it in ¿Quién engañó a Roger Rabbit? (1988). Similarly, Goldie the pheasant's sultry appearance was slightly based off of that of Jessica Rabbit. As shown in one of the early trailers (found on the original 1990 VHS release of Todos los perros van al cielo (1989)), Goldie was also originally given large cleavage, identical to that of Jessica Rabbit. However, after mothers at test screenings were scandalized by her outrageous proportions, Bluth's animators were ordered by Goldcrest Films to censor Goldie's cleavage.
The film originally included more darker elements, a famous one being a deleted sequence from the kitchen scene. In this sequence the Duke bakes a live baby skunk in a pie and then eats it. Oddly enough, according to Gary Goldman, the reason this was cut wasn't because of the content but because Bluth's studio received a complaint from Goldcrest's marketing representative that most cases of child abuse happen in the kitchen, and involve baking instruments.
Don Bluth, who had grown up on a farm, was especially uncomfortable directing the scene in which Edmond's family saves a cow from sinking in the mud. The animal has heavily sedated to make her behave during the shoot, and Bluth needed constant reassurance that she was safe. When he went up to inspect the cow, who was named Abigail, Bluth's experience with cows allowed him to notice something the rest of the crew had not - the cow was pregnant. Bluth turned to the head grip and asked 'What's your name?' 'Clifford,' the grip answered. 'The wee one inside Abigail we will be naming Clifford,' Bluth told him. 'Make sure he stays alive.' Both Abigail and her calf survived.
Pinky (The Fox), the sinister and greedy manager of Chanticleer (The King) is based on the late Elvis Presley's band manager Colonel Tom Parker.
The Duke's breath power emitting glowing geometrical and space-themed shapes was to avoid it being of a single glowing color which children may have found too frightening.