The Rising of the Shield Hero

The Rising of the Shield Hero
First light novel volume cover, featuring Naofumi Iwatani (left), Raphtalia (middle), and Myne Sophia (top-right)
盾の勇者の成り上がり
(Tate no Yūsha no Nariagari)
Genre
Novel series
Written byAneko Yusagi
Published byShōsetsuka ni Narō
Original run2012 – present
Light novel
Written byAneko Yusagi
Illustrated bySeira Minami
Published byMedia Factory
English publisher
  • NA: One Peace Books
ImprintMF Books
Original runAugust 22, 2013 – present
Volumes22
Manga
Written byAiya Kyū
Published byMedia Factory
English publisher
  • NA: One Peace Books
MagazineMonthly Comic Flapper
Original runFebruary 5, 2014 – present
Volumes29
Manga
The Reprise of the Spear Hero
Written byNeet
Published byMedia Factory
English publisher
  • NA: One Peace Books
ImprintMF Comics
Original runAugust 21, 2017 – January 26, 2023
Volumes11
Light novel
The Reprise of the Spear Hero
Written byAneko Yusagi
Illustrated byMinami Seira
Published byMedia Factory
English publisher
  • NA: One Peace Books
ImprintMF Books
Original runSeptember 25, 2017 – present
Volumes5
Manga
Tate no Yūsha no Oshinagaki
Written byTendou Akano
Published byKadokawa
ImprintMF Comics
Original runAugust 21, 2019 – present
Volumes7
Anime television series
  • The Rising of the Shield Hero (2019–present)

The Rising of the Shield Hero (Japanese: 盾の勇者の成り上がり, Hepburn: Tate no Yūsha no Nariagari) 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 2019, 22 volumes have been published.

The light novel series was adapted into a manga series by Aiya Kyū and published by Media Factory, with 29 tankōbon volumes released as of December 2025. Both the light 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 season, co-produced by DR Movie, aired from April to June 2022. A third season aired from October to December 2023. A fourth season aired from July to September 2025. A fifth season has been announced.

Plot

Naofumi Iwatani, an easygoing Japanese youth, was summoned into a parallel world along with three other young Japanese men from parallel universes to become the world's Cardinal Heroes and fight inter-dimensional hordes of monsters called Waves. Only by constantly fighting against the waves can they return to their own world. 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 respectively, a sword, a spear, and a bow, weapons meant for attack. Furthermore, the "status magic" all four also have make it like they are in a computer game, except Naofumi is the only member of the group who has not played one. Because of these differences, he quickly is considered weak, and so as the other heroes 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 by framing him of sexually assaulting her.

Mocked by the nobility and shunned by everyone from his fellow heroes to peasants, a now cynical Naofumi, with nothing but his legendary equipment and current outfit that he bought prior, 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 later 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 as they unravel the mystery of the Waves and the reason why they are a threat not only to their world, but to other worlds as well. This is a story about mutual redemption after establishing connections with companions.

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, 22 volumes have been published. The novel series and the spin-off novel The Reprise of the Spear Hero was licensed by One Peace Books.[3]

Manga

The light novel series was adapted into a manga series by Aiya Kyū and published by Media Factory, with 29 tankōbon volumes released as of December 23, 2025.[4] Both the novel and manga series were licensed by One Peace Books and were published in North America starting in September 2015.[5]

Spin-off

A comedy spin-off series was released in the 61st issue of Kadokawa Dengeki Daioh G.[6] The four-panel comedy manga, titled A Day in the Life of the Shield Hero (盾の勇者のとある一日, Tate no Yūsha no to Aru 1-Nichi), was drawn by Akagashi.

Anime

See also: Isekai Quartet

An anime television series adaptation produced by Kinema Citrus and directed by Takao Abo was broadcast from January 9 to June 26, 2019, on AT-X and other networks.[7][8][9] It ran for 25 episodes.[10] A second season, directed by Masato Jinbo and co-produced by DR Movie, aired from April 6 to June 29, 2022.[11][12] A third season, directed by Hitoshi Haga, aired from October 6 to December 22, 2023.[13] The fourth season aired from July 9 to September 24, 2025.[14] Following the finale, a fifth season was announced to be in production.[15]

The series is streamed globally by Crunchyroll, which also provides the English dub.[16][17] In Southeast Asia, the series is licensed by Plus Media Networks Asia and available on platforms including Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, and bilibili.[18][19][20]

Characters from the series are featured in the comedy crossover series Isekai Quartet starting from its second season, which premiered on January 14, 2020.

Video games

A mobile game titled Tate no Yūsha no Nariagari Rerise (盾の勇者の成り上がり RERISE) was released for Android and iOS devices on February 24, 2021.[21] An adaptation of the anime titled The Rising of the Shield Hero: Relive the Animation was released for Steam on September 24, 2019, for Android and iOS devices on October 24, 2019.[22] In September 2025, a global game project for PC and smartphones based on the anime was announced.[15]

Reception

Sales and accolades

The light novel series had over 3.3 million volumes in print by December 2018,[23] and the manga adaptation had 1 million tankōbon volumes in print by January 2019.[24] By 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 adaptation.[25]

Notes

References

  1. ^ 話題のダークファンタジーや超人気シリーズの最新刊登場！ ＭＦブックス6月新刊、6月24日発売！ そして『盾の勇者の成り上がり』アニメ化決定です!!!. Animeanime.jp (in Japanese). June 24, 2017. Archived from the original on May 6, 2019. Retrieved May 6, 2019. 異世界で二度目の生を受けた元勇者の復讐劇を描く注目のダークファンタジー [Featured dark fantasy depicting the revenge of a former hero who received his second life in a different world!]
  2. ^ Luster, Joseph (December 8, 2018). "The Rising of the Shield Hero Anime Kicks Off the Fantasy in Second PV". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on January 28, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  3. ^ "One Peace Books Licenses Hinamatsuri, I Hear the Sunspot: Limit Manga, Reprise of the Spear Hero Novels". Anime News Network. April 10, 2018. Archived from the original on December 7, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  4. ^ 盾の勇者の成り上がり (29). Kadokawa (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  5. ^ "One Peace Books Adds The Rising of the Shield Hero Fantasy Novel, Manga Series". Anime News Network. March 30, 2015. Archived from the original on April 1, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  6. ^ "Rising of the Shield Hero Novels Get 4-Panel Spinoff Manga". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  7. ^ "The Rising of the Shield Hero Fantasy Novels Get Anime". Anime News Network. June 22, 2017. Archived from the original on June 22, 2017. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  8. ^ "The Rising of The Shield Hero Anime Unveils Main Cast, Staff". Anime News Network. August 9, 2018. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  9. ^ "The Rising of The Shield Hero Anime's 1st Promo Reveals January Premiere". Anime News Network. September 1, 2018. Archived from the original on September 1, 2018. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  10. ^ "The Rising of The Shield Hero Anime Listed With 25 Episodes". Anime News Network. January 11, 2019. Archived from the original on January 11, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  11. ^ "The Rising of the Shield Hero Anime's 2nd Season Premieres in 2021". Anime News Network. September 4, 2020. Archived from the original on September 5, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  12. ^ "The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 Slated for April 6". Anime News Network. March 10, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  13. ^ Mateo, Alex (September 13, 2023). "The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 3 Anime Premieres on October 6". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  14. ^ "The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 4 Anime Reveals July 9 Debut in New Trailer, Key Visual". Anime News Network. June 15, 2025. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  15. ^ a b "The Rising of the Shield Hero TV Anime Gets 5th Season, New Global Game Project". Anime News Network. September 24, 2025. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  16. ^ "Rising of the Shield Hero English Dub Debuts, Future Episodes to Debut Simultaneously With Japan". Anime News Network. February 13, 2019. Archived from the original on February 14, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  17. ^ "The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 4 English Dub Reveals Cast & Crew, Release Date". Crunchyroll. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
  18. ^ "Aniplus Asia Airs Simulcast of Rising of the Shield Hero Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  19. ^ "(Disney+) The Rising of the Shield Hero". Hotstar. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  20. ^ The Rising of the Shield Hero HD | bilibili, retrieved April 6, 2022
  21. ^ TVアニメ「盾の勇者の成り上がり」初のゲームアプリ！ スマートフォン向けRPG『盾の勇者の成り上がり～RERISE～』 ついに配信開始！ (in Japanese). 4Gamer.net. February 24, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  22. ^ 盾の勇者の成り上がり Reive The Animation. RPG Maker Official (in Japanese). September 16, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  23. ^ "Roundup of Newly Revealed Print Counts for Manga, Light Novel Series - December 2018". Anime News Network. January 1, 2019. Archived from the original on January 1, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  24. ^ "Roundup of Newly Revealed Print Counts for Manga, Light Novel Series - January 2019". Anime News Network. February 2, 2019. Archived from the original on February 2, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  25. ^ Komatsu, Mikikazu (April 11, 2019). "The Rising of the Shield Hero Novel/Manga Series Has Printed 6.2 Million Copies in Japan". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on December 2, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
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