According to animation historian Don Markstein, Ralph Philips was Chuck Jones' version of the literary character Walter Mitty. Both are meek, put-upon characters who seek to escape reality through daydreaming about being heroes or villains. The main difference was that Walter is an adult trapped in an unhappy marriage, while Ralph is a little boy with mundane problems.
This is the second animated short film to feature the daydreaming boy Ralph Phillips as the main character, following "From A to Z-Z-Z-Z "(1954). This is also the last appearance of Ralph.
Ralph Phillips has a striking facial resemblance to Cindy-Lou Who, from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," which was also directed by Chuck Jones.
Ralph Phillips' father bears a resemblance to one of the castaways in WACKIKI WABBIT (1943). Both shorts were directed by Chuck Jones.