The Rising of the Shield Hero

The Rising of the Shield Hero is an isekai anime about a summoned hero who is betrayed in his first week and has to rebuild from nothing. It adapts Aneko Yusagi's light novels, published by Kadokawa's MF Books, and Kinema Citrus has animated it since 2019. Naofumi Iwatani is one of four heroes called to defend a kingdom from the Waves, but his weapon is a shield that cannot deal damage, and within days a false accusation leaves him broke, friendless and despised.

That bitter opening is the hook, and it divides people: some find the frame-up too blunt, others find the slow climb back far more satisfying than the genre's usual instant power. The answer to a shield that cannot attack is a party. Naofumi buys Raphtalia as a slave because nobody else will fight beside him, and her growth from frightened child to swordswoman is the emotional spine of the show. Filo, a bird-like monster who hatches from an egg he buys, adds comedy and a cart to haul his merchant trade. Kevin Penkin's score has carried every season, and it does a lot of the work in the darker stretches.

Quality is uneven, and fans say so. Season 1 (25 episodes, January to June 2019, directed by Takao Abo) is still the best received. Season 2 (13 episodes, 2022) squeezes four novels into a single cour and drew heavy criticism for rushed pacing, while seasons 3 (12 episodes, 2023) and 4 (12 episodes, July to September 2025), both under director Hitoshi Haga, steadied it with village building and a war in Q'ten Lo. That is 62 episodes in total, with no films to slot in. Season 5 was announced after season 4 ended, and Crunchyroll's Anime Expo 2026 showcase confirmed it for 2027, with Haga returning; as of October 2026 there is no exact premiere date. Our Shield Hero watch order breaks down what each season covers.

It suits viewers who want an isekai about building a team and a reputation rather than levelling a lone hero, and who can sit through a cruel first act. If it clicks, our ranking of the best isekai anime of all time shows where it sits against Re:Zero and Overlord.