The Rising of the Shield Hero


The Rising of the Shield Hero is a Japanese light novel series written by Aneko Yusagi. Originally published as a web novel in the user-generated novel site Shōsetsuka ni Narō, the series has since been published by Media Factory with an expanded story-line featuring illustrations by Seira Minami. As of June 25, 2019, twenty-two volumes have been published.
The novel series was adapted into a manga series by Aiya Kyū and published by Media Factory, with sixteen volumes released as of July 20, 2020. Both the novel and manga series were licensed by One Peace Books and were published in North America starting in September 2015. The 25-episode anime television series adaptation produced by Kinema Citrus aired from January to June 2019. A second and third season have been announced. The anime series is licensed in North America by the Crunchyroll-Funimation partnership.

Plot

Naofumi Iwatani, an easygoing Japanese youth, was summoned into a parallel world along with three other young men from parallel universes to become the world's Cardinal Heroes and fight inter-dimensional hordes of monsters called Waves. Each of the heroes were respectively equipped with their own legendary equipment when summoned. Naofumi happened to receive the Legendary Shield, the sole defensive equipment, while the other heroes received a sword, a spear, and a bow, weapons meant for attack. Unlike the other heroes who are fully supported by the kingdom and gain several strong allies each, Naofumi's luck turns to the worse after his single companion, revealed to be the kingdom's Princess, betrays him, steals all his belongings, and leaves him devoid of all assistance and supplies after she falsely accuses him of sexually assaulting her.
Mocked by the nobility and shunned by everyone from his fellow Heroes to peasants, a now cynical Naofumi is forced to train as a hero alone while working to make ends meet, until he buys from a slave trader a young tanuki demi-human girl named Raphtalia and an egg that hatches into a bird-like monster whom he names "Filo", both quickly growing into adulthood and becoming powerful warriors under his care. As they little by little gain the trust and gratitude of the people with their heroic actions, Naofumi and his companions work together to carry out their mission as saviors of the world as they unravel the mystery of the Waves and Naofumi deals with his inner darkness.

Media

Light novel

Originally published as a web novel, the series has been re-written with an expanded story-line. The series is currently published by Media Factory and features illustrations by Seira Minami. As of June 25, 2019, twenty-two volumes have been published. The spin-off novel The Reprise of the Spear Hero was licensed by One Peace Books.

Manga

The light novel series was adapted into a manga series by Aiya Kyū and published by Media Factory, with sixteen volumes released as of July 20, 2020. In an interview, the manga artist said, "Comic Flapper’s editorial department told me about the opportunity, and I gleefully took it." Both the novel and manga series were licensed by One Peace Books and were published in North America starting in September 2015.

Spin-off

A comedy spin-off series was released in the 61st issue of Kadokawa Dengeki Daioh G. The four-panel comedy manga, titled "A Day in the Life of the Shield Hero" was drawn by Akagashi.

Anime

An anime adaptation was announced in June 2017. The television series is produced by Kinema Citrus and directed by Takao Abo, with Keigo Koyanagi handling series composition, Masahiro Suwa designing the characters and Kevin Penkin composing the music. The series aired from January 9 to June 26, 2019, on AT-X and other channels. It ran for 25 episodes.
The first opening theme is "RISE", performed by MADKID, while the first ending theme is "Kimi no Namae" performed by Chiai Fujikawa. The second opening theme is "FAITH," performed by MADKID, while the second ending theme is "While I'm Next to You" performed by Fujikawa. For episode 4, Asami Seto sang an insert song titled "Falling Through Starlight" as her character Raphtalia. Both Crunchyroll and Funimation streamed the anime. Crunchyroll streamed the show in both the original Japanese version and the English dub. Funimation started streaming the dub on May 1, 2019. Originally intending to air the English dub simultaneously with the original Japanese, Crunchyroll announced that there would be a two-week delay in the release of the English version on May 14th, the day before episode 19, "The Four Cardinal Heroes", was scheduled to release.
At 2019's Crunchyroll Expo, it was announced that the series will receive a second and third season.

Reception

The light novel series had over 3.3 million volumes in print by December 2018, and the manga series had 1 million tankobon volumes in print by January 2019. As of April 2019, the light novels and manga have sold a combined 6.2 million copies in Japan, after their sales increased by 1.2 million copies in two months, mainly due to the success of the anime series.
When the anime series began airing in the United States, the first episode came under controversy, with several reviewers criticising the show for its depiction of slavery, raising the question of slavery apologism, and the framing of a false rape accusation with many claiming that this was in poor taste following the Me Too movement. When the show's producer Junichiro Tamura was asked about the controversy, he responded that there "have not been any controversies regarding the series in Japan, so it is difficult to say. In the case there were any controversy domestically, we will try to address all issues with the staff and people involved to bring our customers a better product the next time."
Reviews of subsequent episodes have been positive. The reviewer Theron Martin gave a rating of B− for the first two episodes, stating "the series looks like it's gotten over its initial problematic hump and should hopefully slide into a more agreeable story flow." He gave a B+ rating for the third episode, stating that "the series seems like it's angling to build Naofumi up more as a folk hero than the famously brazen heroes we're used to seeing in fantasy stories" and that "episode 3 gives the best argument to date for the series' possible potential."
Reviewer Timothy Donohoo heavily criticized the anime for having an "overpowered protagonist who's seemingly never wrong" and for the "socially contentious undertones", noting that "the series has gotten its fair share of well deserved flak", and adding that "the show's own reputation and critical reception are lower than dirt, and for good reason". He further described the show "as just another generic isekai show, and a poorly done one at that", even without what he describes as "unsavory elements". He speculates that some viewers may sympathize with the protagonist, noting that this would "justify the show's label as an 'incel fantasy'". His remarks were met with huge protest and opposition in the fandom and anime community as a whole.
The character Raphtalia was selected as Best Girl for the Crunchyroll Anime Awards in 2020.