Japanese fashion designer Masanori Morikawa designed the ghouls' masks and costumes. He was a fan of "Tokyo Ghoul" and was happy to contribute to a live-action adaptation.
Director Kentarô Hagiwara studied Sui Ishida's drawings to translate their visual style to live action.
Kentarô Hagiwara cites The Last Samurai (2003), Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) and District 9 (2009) as an influence on the film, describing them as "strong stories punctuated by action."