Director Tex Avery was famous for his off-the-wall cartoons, which were aimed more toward adult audiences than children. Here, however, he pushed the limit of what was considered acceptable, and in several places the film was toned down in order to satisfy the U. S. censors. Original copies were kept and stored away. Shortly afterwards, the army visited MGM studio to view a propaganda movie. Upon seeing this cartoon, they requested (and received) special uncut 16mm prints to send to the soldiers overseas.
This cartoon (along with all other subsequent cartoons featuring "Red") was initially banned from television, judged as being too provocative.
The speaking voice of Red Hot Riding Hood is an imitation, briefly, of Bette Davis, then of Katharine Hepburn.
The original ending had the Wolf married to Grandma with he and his wolf sons cheering Red at the nightclub. Censors disapproved of the suggestion of bestiality in this ending, so it was changed. The earlier ending exists only in stills.
In animation historian Jerry Beck's 1994 poll of animators, film historians and directors, this cartoon was rated the seventh greatest cartoon of all time.