The Rising of the Shield Hero

The Rising of the Shield Hero (盾の勇者の成り上がり, Tate no Yūsha no Nariagari) is a Japanese dark fantasy isekai 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 storyline 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 twenty-three volumes released as of June 22, 2023. 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 season, co-produced by DR Movie, aired from April to June 2022. A third season is set to premiere in October 2023.

The anime series is currently licensed in North America by 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.

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 taking advantage of her.

For his alleged crimes, Naofumi is branded a criminal and made outcast of society. With hatred filling his heart, he sets out alone, vowing vengeance against those who wronged him.

Light Novels
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.

Manga
The light novel series was adapted into a manga series by Aiya Kyū and published by Media Factory, with twenty-three volumes released as of June 22, 2023. Both the novel and manga series were licensed by One Peace Books and were published in North America starting in September 2015.

Spin-Off
Both the novel and manga series were licensed by One Peace Books and were published in North America starting with the first volume on December 22, 2017. One Peace Books licensed the spin-off novel The Reprise of the Spear Hero (槍の勇者のやり直し, Yari no Yuusha no Yarinaoshi).

Character
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TV 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" (きみの名前) 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" (あたしが隣にいるうちに, Atashi ga Tonari ni Iru Uchi ni) 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. Plus Media Networks Asia licensed the series in Southeast Asia and is streaming it on Aniplus Asia, iQIYI, bilibili, Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar. 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 14, the day before episode 19, "The Four Cardinal Heroes", was scheduled to release.

At 2019's Crunchyroll Expo, it was announced that the series would receive a second. Then later at 2020's virtual Crunchyroll Expo, it was originally announced that the second season would premiere in October 2021, but it was later delayed. The second season aired from April 6 to June 29, 2022, on AT-X and other channels. Masato Jinbo replaced Takao Abo as director, and the rest of the staff members reprised their roles, with production by Kinema Citrus and DR Movie. The second season ran for 13 episodes. On May 2, 2022, Crunchyroll announced that the second season would begin streaming its English dub on May 4. During "Kadokawa Light Novel Expo 2020", it was originally revealed that the second season would premiere in October 2021, but it was later delayed. The second season aired from April 6 to June 29, 2022. It ran for 13 episodes. In Southeast Asia, Plus Media Networks Asia licensed the second season and is simulcasting it on Aniplus Asia, bilibili, IQIYI, Netflix. The opening theme is "Bring Back", performed by MADKID, while the ending theme is "Yuzurenai" (ゆずれない), performed by Chiai Fujikawa. On May 2, 2022, Crunchyroll announced that the second season will begin airing its dub on May 4.

The third season is directed by Hitoshi Haga, with the rest of the staff from the previous season returning, with the addition of Alfredo Sirica and Natalie Jeffrey as music composers. It is set to premiere on October 6, 2023. The opening theme is "Sin", performed by MADKID, while the ending theme is "Suki ni Natte wa Ikenai Riyū" (好きになってはいけない理由), performed by Chiai Fujikawa.

Web Radio
The web radio "Raphtalia and Filo who want to deliver normal radio" by Asami Seto as Raftalia and Rina Hidaka as Firo was distributed every other Monday at Onsen from January 21, 2019 to September 16, 2019, and then resumed with video on the last Monday of every month at Onsen from January 17, 2022 On January 17, 2022, distribution resumed on Onsen with video on the last Monday of each month.

From July 27, 2020 to January 27, 2021, the web radio program "Seto Masami and Hidaka Rina no O(wo)mitai! was distributed on the last Monday of every month on Onsen.

Stage Play
It was announced that it would be adapted for the stage on September 16, 2019 and was scheduled to be performed at COOL JAPAN PARK OSAKA TT Hall in Osaka from March 27 to 29, 2020 and at Theater Sun Mall in Tokyo from April 2 to 12, 2020, but due to the outbreak of a new coronavirus The Blu-ray and DVD of the no-show performance of the March 27, 2020, Gene production at COOL JAPAN PARK OSAKA TT Hall was released in September of the same year at the Scissor Blitz Shop.


 * Staff (Stage)
 * Original Story - Aneko Yusagi
 * Original Illustration - Minami Seira
 * Screenplay - MORIYAMA Kaori
 * Directed - Ken SENDA


 * Cast (Stage)
 * IWATANI Naofumi - UNO Yuya,
 * Raphtalia - ISOBE Karin
 * Filo - SEKINE Yuna
 * KITAMURA Motoyasu - YAMAMOTO Kazuyoshi -> ASATO Yuya (TOKYO Meteor Shower)
 * AMAGI Ren - MATSUI Yuho → TANI Mizuki
 * KAWASUMI Itsuki - FUKAZAWA Taiga
 * Knight Commander Nops - Nishi Kenta
 * Deputy Knight Commander SABRE - Seishi OHNO → Naoki TANAKA
 * EIKU - ISHIGAMI Ryusei → YAMANAKA Kenta
 * Slave trader - Kotori Kojima
 * Raphtalia (Childhood) - Erena Kamada
 * Mine - Bridcut Sailor Emi
 * Erhard - Maruyama Atsushi
 * Aultcray Melromarc XXXII - Isamu Ishizaka → Atsushi Mizutani

(order of the stage rehearsal performance → substitute performance, no "→" if there is no change)

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 iOS and Android devices on February 24, 2021. An adaptation of the anime titled The Rising of the Shield Hero: Relive the Animation was released for Steam on September 24, 2019, for iOS and Android devices on October 24, 2019.


 * Pachislot Tate no Yūsha no Nariagari (2023, Sammy)

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. 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 series.

The character Raphtalia was selected as Best Girl for the Crunchyroll Anime Awards in 2020.

Reception and controversy in North America
When the anime series began airing in North America, the first episode came under controversy. Several Anime News Network reviewers criticized the show for its depiction of slavery, raising the question of slavery apologism, and the framing of a false rape accusation, leading online fans to accuse the Western attackers of the anime show of being a “loud minority” and these fans hoped that the dub would not try to make changes to appease its critics. While one of the main Japanese members of the staff behind the anime openly rejected the controversy as "bullshit", when the show's producer Junichiro Tamura was asked about it, he responded that there "have not been any controversies regarding the series in Japan, so it is difficult to say. In the case there was 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 generally positive. Theron Martin of Anime News Network 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."

Trivia
'' to be added. ''

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