The Mask: Animated Series was based on the Dark Horse comic book series and its 1994 film adaptation, but the writers changed how Stanley acquires the mask and wrote out certain film characters, while establishing that Peggy Brandt was not killed as in the film's original edit.

The series was one of three animated shows based on Jim Carrey films that premiered the same year, alongside the Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Dumb and Dumber cartoons.

John Arcudi, a former writer of the original Dark Horse comics, wrote two episodes of the animated series.

Ben Stein, who voiced Dr. Arthur Neuman, was the only cast member to reprise his role from the 1994 film.

Rob Paulsen, who voiced Stanley Ipkiss/The Mask, joked on the talk show Donny & Marie that the role let him "be Jim Carrey for a whole lot less cake."

A two-part crossover between The Mask and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective aired on August 30, 1997, serving as the series finale of The Mask and the season-two finale of Ace Ventura, with each character retaining their own animation style when appearing in the other show.

The villain Gorgonzola the Cheese Witch was created as the winning entry of a contest held by Disney Adventures magazine to design a new villain for the series.

The season two episode "Flight as a Feather" was removed from broadcasts on Fox Family Channel, Cartoon Network, and Boomerang in various markets due to risqué content, though it was later aired uncut on MeTV Toons starting in 2024.