Over the course of the series, Akane examines the social and ethical underpinnings of the Sibyl System's governance of Japan and her own idealistic values.

Akane is noted for her remarkable psychological fortitude, which keeps her Psycho-Pass score consistently low in the face of extraordinary challenges.

Writer Gen Urobuchi stated that when creating the duo of Akane and Kogami, their traits were balanced to make them striking.

Akane Tsunemori was conceptualized by Production I.G staff to be the most relatable character in the series, acting as an audience surrogate who would critique the setting and the ideological conflict between the protagonist Shinya Kogami and the antagonist Shogo Makishima.

Urobuchi originally wanted the anime staff to show Akane's emotional reaction to the murder by having her throw up, but this did not make it to the final cut.

[6] The creators were inspired by films like Apocalypse Now and Saving Private Ryan, to tell a story about Akane searching a war zone for the renegade Kogami.

[4] For Providence, Shiotani specifically wanted Akane Tsunemori to be the film's protagonist while Shinya Kogami would remain as her partner in a sense of a buddy cop.

The fight scenes between Kogami and Kai were carefully animated to express a strong wheather rather than large city the series explores.

[11] Director Naoyoshi Shiotani shared similar feelings, stating he wanted Akane's traits to balance with Kogami's as they are the main duo of Psycho-Pass.

[15] Hanazawa said one of the focal points of the series after the third episode was the changes Akane would undergo; she would be influenced by many unfamiliar, traumatic experiences she must endure as part of her policing role.

The duo was said to resemble Sumire Onda and Shunsaku Aoshima, the lead characters from the Japanese police comedy-drama Bayside Shakedown.

[4] Kazuhiro Yamaji, who plays Joji Saika, said that since his character has been a mentor to Akane since the first television series, he could see notable growth of the lead in the film which can be also seen thanks to the work of Hanazawa.

[19] On her first assignment, Akane stuns Enforcer Shinya Kogami and prevents the execution of a kidnap and assault victim whose Psycho-Pass spiked because of the trauma they had endured.

[21] As Division One pursues criminal mastermind Shogo Makishima, who seeks to undermine Sibyl, Makashima retaliates by taking Akane's best friend Yuki hostage.

Akane accepts Sibyl's offer and leads Division One to Makishima as he attempts to poison the country's food supply.

Kamui then reveals the true reason he brought Akane; Sibyl's adjustment means that Psycho-Pass scores now factor in a Dominator wielder's own judgment and morality as well.

Kamui then suggests Akane voluntarily join Sibyl, in the hopes that her morality will permeate throughout the collective and transform it into a truly benevolent force.

[28] In the 2015 film Psycho-Pass: The Movie, Akane thwarts a terrorist plot by illegal immigrants from the Southeast Asia Union, or SEAUn, a war-torn superstate importing Sibyl technology to police its population.

After seeing evidence that Kogami trained them, Akane is granted permission to travel to SEAUn to investigate and potentially arrest him.

Wong admits to planning a coup d'état, and having Chairman Han assassinated and replaced with an imposter shortly after Akane arrived.

Akane argues that Sibyl depriving the people of SEAUn a say in their own government will create more unrest and civil conflict, and betrays fundamental human rights.

In the first film titled Case.1 Crime and Punishment, Akane instructs inspector Mika Shimotsuki along with two enforcers Nobuchika Ginoza and Yayoi Kunizuka, to investigate an isolation facility called "Sanctuary" run by the Ministry of Economy.

[38] Rebecca Silverman of Anime News Network and Thomas Zoth of The Fandom Post expressed similar response to her debut due to how she different she was from other cops.

[42] Neo magazine's David West noted how weak Akane's character was in early episodes because Kogami did all the work.

[46] Silverman said that ever since her best friend's death at Shogo Makishima's hands, Akane underwent major character development as she due to how she views the law as well as bond with Kogami.

[52] In anticipation of the movie, IGN writer Miranda Sanchez expected to see more interactions between Kogami and Akane due to Psycho-Pass 2 lacking that.

[60][61] Crunchyroll praised her performance, most notably in the latest film Providence for being able to give Akane the same tone he gave him previous works.

[62] Álvaro Rodríguez Sánchez from University of Salamanca described Akane as a strong character despite her aura of weakness thanks to her hero's journey explored across the television series.

Akane is seen as a rookie hero due to how only her sees the true behind the Sybil System and manages to keep her strong sense of justice.

[66] The same year, a Charapedia poll, which asked fans to list their favourite "cool" women in anime, had Akane placed 10th with 257 votes.