Otakon announced that Production I.G. will produce an original animated short for the convention. The piece will be shown as part of the convention's opening ceremonies.

The feature will be directed by Nekomataya (Eureka Seven, Kurau: Phantom Memory, Wolf's Rain). The short will feature a new opening song, titled Shackles of Night that is written by Hiroki Kikuta (Secret of Mana, Koudelka) and performed by Shihori (Macross Frontier: Itsuwari no Utahime).

For the past three years, Otakon featured an "opening animation" to kick off their event. The first was produced by an Otakon staff member, while the other two were handled by animation studio Madhouse.