The Rising of the Shield Hero

About The Rising of the Shield Hero

The Rising of the Shield Hero is a Japanese light novel series that was adapted into an animated television series in 2019. The series centers around Naofumi Iwatani, a 20-year-old otaku who finds himself in a parallel universe along with three others, following his discovery of a mysterious book. Each of the four explorers becomes a Cardinal Hero, given symbolic weapons. Naofumi, unfortunately, receives a shield, signifying his defensive rather than offensive role, which leads to his social recline and incrimination.

Making / Production

Written by Aneko Yusagi, the show was adapted into an anime by Kinema Citrus and directed by Takao Abo. The series made its debut in January 2019 and was later distributed globally by Crunchyroll-Funimation.

Actors

• Kaito Ishikawa voices Naofumi Iwatani, the antisocial, single-minded protagonist who transforms into a mature leader. Ishikawa brings a complex depth to the character.
• Asami Seto voices Raphtalia, a demi-human who becomes Naofumi's first real ally. Seto strongly portrays Raphtalia's growth from a scared child into a valiant warrior.
• Rina Hidaka voices Filo, a queen of the chocobos who becomes one of Naofumi's allies. Hidaka provides a joyful, spirited voice to the character.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The anime adaptation was announced in June 2017, long after the release of the original light novel series in 2013.
• Naofumi's shield has various forms with different abilities, an idea that was inspired by the concept of materia from Final Fantasy VII.

Quotes

• "A shield... Not a weapon... But a tool to protect the ones he cares for."
• "You may be able to erase the waves, but that doesn't mean our fight is over!" - Naofumi Iwatani

Music, Soundtrack

• The series' opening theme is "RISE," performed by MADKID, while the ending theme is "Shield" by Makako Honda.
• Besides the two main themes, the series also features a range of background music crafted by composer Kevin Penkin to heighten the story's various emotional beats.