The battle against the heroes of another world reaches its turning point with no side showing signs of giving up. But with the time limit of the calamity approaching, there is no other choice than putting an end to the battle by any means necessary. Is Naofumi strong enough to defeat Glass?
The Rising of the Shield Hero
Kinema Citrus
Oshimeter
9.5
10 Fans
15 Want to Watch
84 Watched
Synopsis
Pulled into a fantasy kingdom as one of four legendary heroes, Naofumi Iwatani draws the short straw and gets stuck with a shield. No sword, no bow, no offensive power at all. And then it gets worse. Within the first couple episodes, he's falsely accused and publicly humiliated, stripped of his reputation, and left with nothing. The entire kingdom treats him like garbage. So now you've got a guy who has every reason to give up, forced to claw his way back from rock bottom using the one weapon nobody respects. That tension is what makes this 25-episode TV series from Kinema Citrus hit different from most isekai. Naofumi doesn't power-fantasy his way through problems — he has to think, adapt, and build trust with the few people willing to stand by him. The emotional weight of watching him go from completely broken to quietly resilient gives the action and adventure real stakes. Kevin Penkin's soundtrack (the same composer behind Made in Abyss) adds a layer of atmosphere that elevates the whole thing. If you liked the darker psychological edges of Re:Zero or the "everyone underestimates the protagonist" energy of Arifureta, this covers similar ground but with a protagonist built around defense and survival rather than raw power. It's a slow burn of earned payoffs, and the betrayal that kicks everything off will genuinely make you angry — in the best way.
Episode Guide
Oshimeter0-5960-7980-100
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Characters
Raphtalia
A tanuki demi-human, Raphtalia is Naofumi's loyal companion, a skilled warrior, and wielder of a Vassal Weapon.
Portrayed by Mendez Erica
Naofumi Iwatani
Summoned as the Shield Hero, Naofumi overcomes betrayal and cynicism to fight calamity, forging bonds with Raphtalia and Filo.
Portrayed by Kametz Billy
Filo
A fast-growing Filolial, later a Queen, who can transform into a humanoid and speak thanks to the Shield Hero.
Portrayed by Knickerbocker Brianna
MANGA BRIDGE
This season covers Chapters 1-47 of the manga. Continue reading from Chapter 48.
Quick Takes
View all 80 takesThe next wave starts in a very unfavorable environment, the open sea. Can the heroes fight when the enemy spends most of the time submerged? Meanwhile L’arc and Therese seems to have their own agenda. Are they really allies there to help with the calamity? Or could they be enemies?
Needing to level up and prepare for the next wave, all heroes travel to the archipelago of Cal Mira, where they can take advantage of the xp boost that the place is offering. And while the training bares fruit and unexpected allies happen, things might not be as simple as they first appear.
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