The title Shirobako refers to videos that are distributed to the production staff members prior to its release. These videos were at a time distributed as VHS tapes enclosed in white boxes and are still referred to as "white boxes" (thus the meaning of shirobako) despite the fact that the white enclosures are no longer in use. Complimenting the title, the DVD & Bluray releases also used this design.
The name of the animation studio in the series is called Musashino Animation, likely an allusion to M.S.J Musashino Animation company. Aoi's rival whom she often races with is called G.I Staff, combined from the names of animation studios J.C. Staff and Production I.G and the exterior shots were modeled after Studio T&T. The character Seiichi Kinoshita is modeled after director Seiji Mizushima and the character Masato Marukawa is molded after producer Masao Maruyama. Other characters who are allusions to prolific industry people include, Shimeji Maitake based on author Kinoko Nasu, Masahiro Okura based on Art Director, Hiromasa Ogura and Mitsuaki Kanno based on Hideaki Anno.
The fictional show being produced is known as "Third Arial Girls Squad" based on a fictional manga created by Takezo Nogame, a character based on real manga artist, Takeshi Nogami. "Third Arial Girls Squad" also inspired a short direct-to-video special as well as a short manga authored by Nogami himself.