Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger

The show was Toei's first late-night tokusatsu production in seven years, since Sh15uya, and unlike the mainline Super Sentai series, it was produced by Toei alone without involvement from broadcaster TV Asahi, which is why it aired on BS Asahi and Tokyo MX instead of terrestrial TV Asahi affiliates.

The project stemmed from producer Jun Higasa's observation that the 35th anniversary series Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger drew unexpectedly strong response from older, longtime fans, convincing Toei that merchandise aimed at grown-up Sentai fans could work; the working title during planning was 'Shin'ya Sentai' (Midnight Sentai).

The concept of a team fighting battles that exist only in the characters' delusions ('mousou') was inspired by the film Sucker Punch (Angel Wars in Japan).

Bandai's S.H.Figuarts brand, which had started producing Super Sentai figures without achieving Kamen Rider-level sales, sought adult collectors, and figure designer Noboru Hara pitched a collaboration with Toei that aligned perfectly with the Akibaranger concept, so the characters were designed from the outset with figure production in mind, including anime-style hair detailing and joint-like elbow and knee designs.

Because it was unclear during production whether the season would run 12 or 13 episodes, episode 12 was written to work as the story's climax either way.

Props from past Sentai series stored by Toei were reused, such as episode 4's Earth Defense Force uniforms which were actually leftover costumes from Dengeki Sentai Changeman, though some items like the Zonnette costume from Gekisou Sentai Carranger could not be located.

Voice actor Mitsuo Iwata and Takaya Kuroda, both cast as section-chief characters, appear because an early draft of episode 3 had Nobuo trying to recruit them specifically since their names contain the kanji for green (midori) and black (kuro) to fill out Green and Black members for Akibaranger.

Maaya Uchida, who played Hiroyo Hakase, was primarily a voice actress and this was her first live-action role, while Miiko Morita (Sayaka Hon'iden) made her acting debut in this series.

Kozue Aikawa, who played Kozukozu Mita, was a member of the net idol group DANCEROID rather than a professional actress and was cast on the suggestion of director Ryuta Tasaki; fellow DANCEROID member Itokutora later made a guest appearance.

Because the show treats the Super Sentai franchise as existing within its fictional world, actors who had played past Sentai heroes could only appear as themselves or reprise their old roles, exemplified by Ryuji Sainei appearing as himself referencing his role as DekaRed.

Season Tsuu deliberately recreated the visual texture of old film composite effects and used period-accurate analog techniques for scenes reproducing past Sentai footage, an intentional choice by director Ryuta Tasaki to revive older techniques and let viewers experience a 'creator's mindset.'

The role of second Akiba Blue in Season Tsuu was given to Shione Sawada as Runa Iwashimizu because original actress Kyoko Hinami's schedule prevented her from returning; this was Sawada's first regular TV drama role.