The Rising of the Shield Hero (盾の勇者の成り上がり Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari?) anime series produced by Kinema Citrus is an adaptation based on the Light Novel series written by Aneko Yusagi.
The first season was broadcast from January to June 2019, with 25 episodes. A second season, which was announced in 2019, ran with 13 episodes, from April 6 to June 29, 2022. A third season, which was announced in 2019, ran for 12 episodes, from October 6 to December 22, 2023. The anime can be watched on Prime Video and Crunchyroll.
Synopsis[]
Stories of old tell of four otherworldly heroes—wielding the sword, spear, bow, and shield—who defended the land from wave after wave of calamity. With the fate of the world in balance, the kingdom of Melromarc summons these legendary figures; in modern-day Japan, the call is answered, and the unwitting heroes are transported to this fantasy universe.[1]
Thrust into Melromarc and given the title of "Shield Hero," otaku Naofumi Iwatani is labeled the weakest due to his lack of offensive capability and apparent inexperience. When the heroes part ways to start their journeys, he only has one willing companion: the beautiful princess Malty Melromarc. However, she soon betrays him, steals all his money, and accuses him of raping her.[1]
For his alleged crimes, Naofumi is branded a criminal and made an outcast of society. With hatred filling his heart, he sets out alone, vowing vengeance against those who wronged him.[1]
Background[]
The Rising of the Shield Hero is based on Aneko Yusagi's light novel of the same title and mainly adapts the first five novels. While more faithful to the first novel, the second to the fifth novel is followed more loosely, for example; rewriting events, changes to the personalities of characters, and the addition of characters into the narrative which weren't originally there.[2]
The worldwide premiere of episode 1 of The Rising of the Shield Hero anime debuted at Crunchyroll Expo on September 1st. The Crunchyroll co-production will be available to members worldwide except for Asia when the series kicks off as part of the winter 2019 anime season.
Episodes List[]
Episode | Episode Name | Japanese Air Date | English Air Date |
---|---|---|---|
01 | The Shield Hero | January 9, 2019 | February 13, 2019 |
02 | The Slave Girl | January 16, 2019 | February 13, 2019 |
03 | Wave of Catastrophe | January 23, 2019 | February 13, 2019 |
04 | Lullaby at Dawn | January 30, 2019 | February 13, 2019 |
05 | Filo | February 6, 2019 | February 13, 2019 |
06 | A New Comrade | February 13, 2019 | February 13, 2019 |
07 | The Savior of the Heavenly Fowl | February 20, 2019 | February 20, 2019 |
08 | Curse Shield | February 27, 2019 | February 27, 2019 |
09 | Melty | March 6, 2019 | March 6, 2019 |
10 | In the Midst of Turmoil | March 13, 2019 | March 13, 2019 |
11 | Catastrophe Returns | March 20, 2019 | March 20, 2019 |
12 | The Raven Invader | March 27, 2019 | March 27, 2019 |
13 | The Devil of the Shield | April 3, 2019 | April 3, 2019 |
14 | Everlasting Memory | April 10, 2019 | April 10, 2019 |
15 | Raphtalia | April 17, 2019 | April 17, 2019 |
16 | Filolial Queen | April 24, 2019 | May 1, 2019 |
17 | A Promise Made | May 1, 2019 | May 1, 2019 |
18 | A Conspiracy Linked | May 8, 2019 | May 8, 2019 |
19 | The Four Cardinal Heroes | May 15, 2019 | May 29, 2019 |
20 | Battle of Good and Evil | May 22, 2019 | June 5, 2019 |
21 | Naofumi's Triumphant Return | May 29, 2019 | June 12, 2019 |
22 | Four Heroes Council | June 5, 2019 | June 19, 2019 |
23 | Cal Mira Archipelago | June 12, 2019 | June 26, 2019 |
24 | Guardians of Another World | June 19, 2019 | July 3, 2019 |
25 | The Rising of the Shield Hero | June 26, 2019 | July 10, 2019 |
Episode | Episode Name | Japanese Air Date | English Air Date |
---|---|---|---|
26 | A New Roar | April 6, 2022 | May 4, 2022 |
27 | Footprints of the Spirit Tortoise | April 13, 2022 | May 11, 2022 |
28 | Shaking Land | April 20, 2022 | May 18, 2022 |
29 | Ruins in the Fog | April 27, 2022 | May 25, 2022 |
30 | Ost Horai | May 4, 2022 | June 1, 2022 |
31 | Racing to Catch Up | May 11, 2022 | June 8, 2022 |
32 | Infinite Labyrinth | May 18, 2022 | June 15, 2022 |
33 | A Parting in the Snow | May 25, 2022 | June 22, 2022 |
34 | Humming Fairy | June 1, 2022 | June 29, 2022 |
35 | Katana Hero | June 8, 2022 | July 6, 2022 |
36 | Kizuna | June 15, 2022 | July 13, 2022 |
37 | Reason to Fight | June 22, 2022 | July 20, 2022 |
38 | Flowers Offered in Recollection | June 29, 2022 | July 27, 2022 |
Episode | Episode Name | Japanese Air Date | English Air Date |
---|---|---|---|
39 | The Dark Coliseum | October 6, 2023 | October 20, 2023 |
40 | Nadia | October 13, 2023 | October 27, 2023 |
41 | The White Tiger Siblings | October 20, 2023 | November 3, 2023 |
42 | The Operation to Capture the Spear Hero | October 27, 2023 | November 10, 2023 |
43 | Each of Their Paths | November 3, 2023 | November 17, 2023 |
44 | Where You Point Your Strength | November 10, 2023 | December 1, 2023 |
45 | The Girl and the Dragon | November 17, 2023 | December 8, 2023 |
46 | Dragon's Den | November 24, 2023 | December 15, 2023 |
47 | Emperor Dragon | December 1, 2023 | December 22, 2023 |
48 | Perfect Hidden Justice | December 8, 2023 | December 29, 2023 |
49 | Justice vs. Justice | December 15, 2023 | January 5, 2024 |
50 | The Ones We Must Protect | December 22, 2023 | January 12, 2024 |
Visuals and DVD/Blu-Ray Volumes[]
Staff[]
- Original Work: Aneko Yusagi
- Original Illustration: Seira Minami
- Director: Tako Abo
- Series Composition: Keigo Koyanagi
- Character Design: Mashiro Suwa
- Design Leader: Takeshi Takkura
- Design Assistant: Shinpei Wada
- Monster Design: Satoshi Mori
- Action Setting: Yuka Kuroda
- Prop Design: Ayako Sugimura
- Color Coordination: Anna Okamatsu
- Visual Adviser: Osamu Masuyama
- Art: Shinsuke Kinoshita, Sachiko Nishiguchi, Seiko Akashi
- 3D CG Director: Yushi Koshida
- 2D Artist: Hydekick
- Motion Graphics: Hidekatsu Uemura
- Director of Photography: Yukiyo Kajiwara
- Editing: Hitomi Sudo
- Sound Production: Glovision
- Sound Director: Fumiyuki Go
- Music Kevin Penkin
- Music Producer: Hiromitsu Iijima, Shunichi Uemura
- Animation Production: Kinema Cirus & DRMOVIE
Cast[]
Characters | Japanese VA | English VA | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Main Character | ||||
Naofumi Iwatani | Kaito Ishikawa | Billy Kametz (Season 1)
Stephen Fu (Season 2-Present) | ||
Raphtalia | Asami Seto | Erica Mendez | ||
Filo | Rina Hidaka | Brianna Knickerbocker | ||
Supporting Characters | ||||
Motoyasu Kitamura | Makoto Takahashi | Xander Mobus | ||
Ren Amaki | Yoshisugu Matsuoka | Alan Lee | ||
Itsuki Kawasumi | Yoshitaka Yamaya | Erik Scott Kimerer | ||
Aultcray Melromarc XXXII | Yutaka Nakano | Taylor Henry | ||
Malty S Melromarc | Sarah Emi Bridcutt | Faye Mata | ||
Erhard | Hiroki Yasumoto | Imari Williams | ||
Glass | Megumi Han | Morgan Berry | ||
Melty Q Melromarc | Maaya Uchida | Jackie Lastra | ||
Mirellia Q Melromarc | Kikuko Inoue | Katelyn Gault | ||
Fitoria | Sakura Tange | Cristina Vee | ||
L'Arc Berg Sickle | Jun Fukuyama | Alejandro Saab | ||
Therese Alexanderite | Saori Hayami | Erika Harlacher | ||
Rishia Ivyred | Natsuko Hara | Kira Buckland | ||
Idol Rabier | Taisuke Nishimura | Tom Fahn |
Music[]
Opening Themes:
Ending Themes:
- RISE by MADKID (Episode 1)
- Kimi no Namae by Chiai Fujikawa (Episodes 2-3, Episodes 5-12, Episode 25)
- Atashi ga Tonari ni Iru Uchi ni by Chiai Fujikawa (Episodes 13-20, Episodes 22-24)
- Cold Illusions by Ryan Greaves (Episode 21)
Original Soundtracks:
Insert Song:
- Falling Through Starlight by Asami Seto (Episode 4)
- RISE by MADKID (Episode 20)
Opening Themes:
- Bring Back by MADKID (Episodes 27-30, Episodes 32-36)
Ending Themes:
- Bring Back by MADKID (Episode 26)
- Yuzurenai by Chiai Fujikawa (Episodes 27-30, Episodes 32-38)
Insert Song:
- Bring Back by MADKID (Episode 31, Episode 37)
Opening Themes:
- Sin by MADKID (Episodes 39-50)
Ending Themes:
- Suki ni Natte wa Ikenai Riyū by Chiai Fujikawa (Episodes 40-50)
Trivia[]
- When Aneko Yusagi was asked about their first impression towards the storyboard, Aneko replied "Was this really how it was like? I knew how the story went, but when I tried looking at it as my own work it felt like something else entirely."[3]
- When Aneko Yusagi was asked about their favorite episodes, Aneko replied "Episode 1-4."[3]
- When Aneko Yusagi was asked about their overall impression towards the anime, Aneko replied "I guess. It's like seeing the story from Raphtalia's point of view." (sugar-coated).[3]
- When Aiya Kyu was asked about the character designs and art for the Shield Hero anime, the manga artist replied, "I believe the illustrator for the novels, Minami Seira, is overseeing the whole thing in detail."[4]
- A limited edition light novel was packaged with the season 1 Blu-ray/DVD set.