The Rising of the Shield Hero is an anime television series based on the light novel series of the same title written by Aneko Yusagi. [1] The first season is produced by Kinema Citrus and directed by Takao Abo, [2] with Keigo Koyanagi handling composition, Masahiro Suwa designing the characters, and Kevin Penkin composing the music. [3] The season aired from January 9 to June 26, 2019, on AT-X and other networks. [4] It ran for 25 episodes. [5] The anime series is licensed by Crunchyroll in North America. [6] [7]
At 2019's Crunchyroll Expo, it was announced that the series would receive a second and third season. [8] 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 by 6 months. [9] The second season aired from April 6 to June 29, 2022, on AT-X and other networks. [10] Masato Jinbo replaced Takao Abo as series director, and the rest of the staff members reprised their roles, with production by Kinema Citrus and DR Movie. [11] The second season ran for 13 episodes. [12] Crunchyroll announced that the second season's English dub would begin streaming on May 4. [13]
The third season aired from October 6 to December 22, 2023. [14] Hitoshi Haga, who directed and storyboarded episodes from the first season, replaced Jinbo as series director, with the rest of the main staff reprising their roles. Alfredo Sirica and Natalie Jeffreys serve as additional music composers alongside Kevin Penkin for the third season. [15] On October 19, 2023, Crunchyroll announced that the third season would begin airing its dub the following day. [16]
In January 2024, it was announced that a fourth season was in production, [17] which aired from July 9 to September 24, 2025. The opening theme song is "Resolution", performed by Madkid, while the ending theme song is "Eien ni Ikkai no" (永遠に一回の), performed by Chiai Fujikawa. Hitoshi Haga reprises his role as series director. The series composition is handled by Keigo Koyanagi, character design by Franziska van Wulfen, Sana Komatsu and Masahiro Suwa, and soundtrack by Kevin Penkin, Alfredo Sirica and Natalie Jeffreys. [18] [19] Crunchyroll is streaming the dub in the same day the season aired. [20]
Following the fourth season finale, a fifth season was announced. [21]
| No. overall | No. in season | Title [22] [23] | Directed by [22] | Written by [22] | Storyboarded by [22] | Original release date [22] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "The Shield Hero" Transliteration: "Tate no Yūsha" (Japanese: 盾の勇者) | Hitoshi Haga | Keigo Koyanagi | Takao Abo | January 9, 2019 |
| 2 | 2 | "The Slave Girl" Transliteration: "Dorei no Shōjo" (Japanese: 奴隷の少女) | Seung-hui Son | Ohine Ezaki | Seung-hui Son | January 16, 2019 |
| 3 | 3 | "Wave of Catastrophe" Transliteration: "Saiyaku no Nami" (Japanese: 災厄の波) | Satoshi Mori | Ohine Ezaki | Satoshi Mori | January 23, 2019 |
| 4 | 4 | "Lullaby at Dawn" Transliteration: "Akatsuki no Komoriuta" (Japanese: 暁の子守唄) | Seung-hui Son | Ohine Ezaki | Takao Abo, Yuka Kuroda | January 30, 2019 |
| 5 | 5 | "Filo" Transliteration: "Fīro" (Japanese: フィーロ) | Toshiharu Kudō | Daisuke Tazawa | Hitoshi Haga | February 6, 2019 |
| 6 | 6 | "A New Comrade" Transliteration: "Atarashii Nakama" (Japanese: 新しい仲間) | Shigeki Awai | Daisuke Tazawa | Hidetoshi Namura | February 13, 2019 |
| 7 | 7 | "The Savior of the Heavenly Fowl" Transliteration: "Shinchō no Seijin" (Japanese: 神鳥の聖人) | Yūji Tokuno | Daisuke Tazawa | Seung-hui Son, Yuka Kuroda | February 20, 2019 |
| 8 | 8 | "Curse Shield" Transliteration: "Noroi no Tate" (Japanese: 呪いの盾) | Hitoshi Haga | Daisuke Tazawa | Hitoshi Haga | February 27, 2019 |
| 9 | 9 | "Melty" Transliteration: "Meruti" (Japanese: メルティ) | Toshiharu Kudō | Ohine Ezaki | Toshiharu Kudō, Kōji Furukuwa | March 6, 2019 |
| 10 | 10 | "In the Midst of Turmoil" Transliteration: "Konmei no Naka de" (Japanese: 混迷の中で) | Jun Takahashi | Ohine Ezaki | Takao Abo | March 13, 2019 |
| 11 | 11 | "Catastrophe Returns" Transliteration: "Saiyaku, Futatabi" (Japanese: 災厄、再び) | Hodaka Kuramoto | Daisuke Tazawa | Erukin Kawabata | March 20, 2019 |
| 12 | 12 | "The Raven Invader" Transliteration: "Shikkoku no Ihōsha" (Japanese: 漆黒の異邦者) | Shigeki Awai | Daisuke Tazawa | Yasuhiro Irie | March 27, 2019 |
| 13 | 13 | "The Devil of the Shield" Transliteration: "Tate no Akuma" (Japanese: 盾の悪魔) | Hitoshi Haga | Ohine Ezaki | Hitoshi Haga | April 3, 2019 |
| 14 | 14 | "Everlasting Memory" Transliteration: "Kesenai Kioku" (Japanese: 消せない記憶) | Naoki Murata | Ohine Ezaki | Hidetoshi Namura | April 10, 2019 |
| 15 | 15 | "Raphtalia" Transliteration: "Rafutaria" (Japanese: ラフタリア) | Toshiharu Kudō | Ohine Ezaki | Takao Abo | April 17, 2019 |
| 16 | 16 | "Filolial Queen" Transliteration: "Firoriaru no Joō" (Japanese: フィロリアルの女王) | Ryū Nakayama | Ryū Nakayama | Ryū Nakayama | April 24, 2019 |
| 17 | 17 | "A Promise Made" Transliteration: "Tsumugareru Yakusoku" (Japanese: 紡がれる約束) | Hodaka Kuramoto | Katsuji Yatsushige, Keigo Koyanagi | Tatsuhiko Komatsu | May 1, 2019 |
| 18 | 18 | "A Conspiracy Linked" Transliteration: "Tsuranaru Inbō" (Japanese: 連なる陰謀) | Naoki Murata | Daisuke Tazawa | Hitoshi Haga, Tatsuhiko Komatsu | May 8, 2019 |
| 19 | 19 | "The Four Cardinal Heroes" Transliteration: "Shisei Yūsha" (Japanese: 四聖勇者) | Hitoshi Haga | Daisuke Tazawa | Hitoshi Haga | May 15, 2019 |
| 20 | 20 | "Battle of Good and Evil" Transliteration: "Seija Kessen" (Japanese: 聖邪決戦) | Takuma Suzuki | Daisuke Tazawa | Takao Abo, Yuka Kuroda | May 22, 2019 |
| 21 | 21 | "Naofumi's Triumphant Return" Transliteration: "Naofumi no Gaisen" (Japanese: 尚文の凱旋) | Takao Abo | Keigo Koyanagi | Takao Abo | May 29, 2019 |
| 22 | 22 | "Four Heroes Council" Transliteration: "Yūsha Kaigi" (Japanese: 勇者会議) | Kōji Furukuwa | Ohine Ezaki | Kōji Furukuwa | June 5, 2019 |
| 23 | 23 | "Cal Mira Archipelago" Transliteration: "Karu Mira-tō" (Japanese: カルミラ島) | Toshiharu Kudō | Daisuke Tazawa | Toshiharu Kudō | June 12, 2019 |
| 24 | 24 | "Guardians of Another World" Transliteration: "Isekai no Shugosha" (Japanese: 異世界の守護者) | Takanori Yamamoto, Takuma Suzuki | Daisuke Tazawa | Yuka Kuroda, Hidetoshi Namura | June 19, 2019 |
| 25 | 25 | "The Rising of the Shield Hero" Transliteration: "Tate no Yūsha no Nariagari" (Japanese: 盾の勇者の成り上がり) | Shinpei Wada, Kōji Furukuwa, Takao Abo | Keigo Koyanagi | Takao Abo | June 26, 2019 |
| No. overall | No. in season | Title [24] [25] | Directed by [24] | Chief animation directed by [24] | Original release date [24] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 1 | "A New Roar" Transliteration: "Arata na Hōkō" (Japanese: 新たな咆哮) | Directed by : Masato Jinbo Storyboarded by : Masato Jinbo & Mayu Hirotomi | Masahiro Suwa | April 6, 2022 |
| 27 | 2 | "Footprints of the Spirit Tortoise" Transliteration: "Reiki no Ashiato" (Japanese: 霊亀の足跡) | Takahiro Hirata | Kōta Sera | April 13, 2022 |
| 28 | 3 | "Shaking Land" Transliteration: "Yureru Daichi" (Japanese: 揺れる大地) | Directed by : Tomonori Mine Storyboarded by : Kahoru Fujiki | Masahiro Suwa | April 20, 2022 |
| 29 | 4 | "Ruins in the Fog" Transliteration: "Muchū no Iseki" (Japanese: 霧中の遺跡) | Mayu Hirotomi | Kōta Sera | April 27, 2022 |
| 30 | 5 | "Ost Hourai" Transliteration: "Osuto Hōrai" (Japanese: オスト＝ホウライ) | Takahiro Hirata | Masahiro Suwa | May 4, 2022 |
| 31 | 6 | "Racing to Catch Up" Transliteration: "Okkake" (Japanese: 追駆) | Directed by : Takuma Suzuki Storyboarded by : Masayuki Kojima, Tomoko Hiramuki & Takuma Suzuki | Kōta Sera & Masahiro Suwa | May 11, 2022 |
| 32 | 7 | "Infinite Labyrinth" Transliteration: "Mugenmeikyū" (Japanese: 無限迷宮) | Ippei Ichii | Kōta Sera & Masahiro Suwa | May 18, 2022 |
| 33 | 8 | "A Parting in the Snow" Transliteration: "Yuki no Wakare" (Japanese: 雪の別れ) | Directed by : Min Sun Kim Storyboarded by : Hideaki Uehara | Masahiro Suwa, Kōta Sera & Jin Woo Woo | May 25, 2022 |
| 34 | 9 | "Humming Fairy" Transliteration: "Hamingu Fērī" (Japanese: ハミングフェーリー) | Marina Maki | Masahiro Suwa | June 1, 2022 |
| 35 | 10 | "Katana Hero" Transliteration: "Katana no Yūsha" (Japanese: 刀の勇者) | Takahiro Hirata | Masahiro Suwa & Kōta Sera | June 8, 2022 |
| 36 | 11 | "Kizuna" (Japanese: 絆) | Directed by : Jeong Hee Yang & Yang Ho Ji Storyboarded by : Ippei Ichii | Masahiro Suwa & Jin Woo Woo | June 15, 2022 |
| 37 | 12 | "Reason to Fight" Transliteration: "Tatakau Riyū" (Japanese: 戦う理由) | Daigo Yamagishi | Masahiro Suwa & Kōta Sera | June 22, 2022 |
| 38 | 13 | "Flowers Offered in Recollection" Transliteration: "Tsuioku no Kenka" (Japanese: 追憶の献花) | Directed by : Muneki Ogasawara, Sakumi Inoha, Masatsugu Arakawa & Daigo Yamagishi Storyboarded by : Masayuki Kojima, Yōhei, Shingo Kaneko, Daigo Yamagishi & Sakumi Inoha | Masahiro Suwa, Kōta Sera & Ga Young Park | June 29, 2022 |
| No. overall | No. in season | Title [26] [27] | Directed by [26] [27] | Written by [26] [27] | Chief animation directed by [26] [27] | Original release date [26] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | 1 | "The Dark Coliseum" Transliteration: "Yami no Koroshiamu" (Japanese: 闇のコロシアム) | Hitoshi Haga | Keigo Koyanagi | Sana Komatsu | October 6, 2023 |
| 40 | 2 | "Nadia" (Japanese: ナディア) | Directed by : Motohiko Niwa Storyboarded by : Hiroshi Yoneda | Keigo Koyanagi | Sana Komatsu & Yuka Kuroda | October 13, 2023 |
| 41 | 3 | "The White Tiger Siblings" Transliteration: "Hakuko no Kyōdai" (Japanese: ハクコの兄妹) | Directed by : Shunsuke Kishi Storyboarded by : Masayuki Kojima | Takuya Asahina | Sana Komatsu, Yuka Kuroda & Franziska van Wulfen | October 20, 2023 |
| 42 | 4 | "The Operation to Capture the Spear Hero" Transliteration: "Yari no Yūsha Hokaku Sakusen" (Japanese: 槍の勇者捕獲作戦) | Shunsuke Takarai | Akiko Waba | Sana Komatsu & Franziska van Wulfen | October 27, 2023 |
| 43 | 5 | "Each of Their Paths" Transliteration: "Sorezore no Michi" (Japanese: それぞれの道) | Directed by : Takanori Yamamoto Storyboarded by : Hitoshi Haga | Momoka Toyoda | Sana Komatsu & Franziska van Wulfen | November 3, 2023 |
| 44 | 6 | "Where You Point Your Strength" Transliteration: "Tsuyo-sa no Hokosaki" (Japanese: 強さの矛先) | Directed by : Motohiko Niwa Storyboarded by : Youhei | Momoka Toyoda | Sana Komatsu, Yuka Kuroda & Franziska van Wulfen | November 10, 2023 |
| 45 | 7 | "The Girl and the Dragon" Transliteration: "Shōjo to Doragon" (Japanese: 少女とドラゴン) | Directed by : Min Kyung Hee Storyboarded by : Hitoshi Haga | Ohine Ezaki | Sana Komatsu | November 17, 2023 |
| 46 | 8 | "Dragon's Den" Transliteration: "Ryū no Su" (Japanese: 竜の巣) | Directed by : Testuro Tanaka Storyboarded by : Shingo Kaneko & Tetsuro Tanaka | Ohine Ezaki | Sana Komatsu, Yuka Kuroda & Franziska van Wulfen | November 24, 2023 |
| 47 | 9 | "Emperor Dragon" Transliteration: "Ma Ryū" (Japanese: 魔竜) | Directed by : Takanori Yamamoto & Yuuto Ooizumi Storyboarded by : Hiroshi Yoneda & Huang Jiawen | Ohine Ezaki | Sana Komatsu, Yuka Kuroda & Franziska van Wulfen | December 1, 2023 |
| 48 | 10 | "Perfect Hidden Justice" Transliteration: "Pāfekuto Haido Jasutisu" (Japanese: パーフェクト＝ハイド＝ジャスティス) | Directed by : Arisa Shima, Toshisuke Kishi & Akemi Kabata Storyboarded by : Yusuke Kubo | Akiko Waba | Sana Komatsu, Yuka Kuroda & Franziska van Wulfen | December 8, 2023 |
| 49 | 11 | "Justice VS Justice" Transliteration: "Seigi tai Seigi" (Japanese: 正義 VS 正義) | Daiki Yonemori | Akiko Waba | Sana Komatsu, Yuka Kuroda & Franziska van Wulfen | December 15, 2023 |
| 50 | 12 | "The Ones We Must Protect" Transliteration: "Mamorubeki Mono-tachi" (Japanese: 守るべき者達) | Directed by : Wataru Arakawa Storyboarded by : Yoshiaki Okumura | Keigo Koyanagi | Sana Komatsu, Yuka Kuroda & Franziska van Wulfen | December 22, 2023 |
| No. overall | No. in season | Title [28] [29] | Directed by [28] [29] | Written by [28] [29] | Chief animation directed by [28] [29] | Original release date [28] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | 1 | "Siltvelt" Transliteration: "Shirutoveruto" (Japanese: シルトヴェルト) | Takanori Yamamoto | Keigo Koyanagi | Franziska van Wulfen | July 9, 2025 |
| 52 | 2 | "Official Welcome" Transliteration: "Kantai" (Japanese: 歓待) | Wataru Arakawa | Mika Tanaka | Franziska van Wulfen & Masahiro Suwa | July 16, 2025 |
| 53 | 3 | "A True People" Transliteration: "Shinnaru Min to wa" (Japanese: 真なる民とは) | Directed by : Wataru Arakawa & Motohiko Niwa Storyboarded by : Takanori Yamamoto | Akiko Waba | Franziska van Wulfen & Masahiro Suwa | July 23, 2025 |
| 54 | 4 | "Entrusted Power" Transliteration: "Takusa-reta Chikara" (Japanese: 託された力) | Directed by : Hitoshi Haga, Xingwen Yao & Hiroki Yamamoto Storyboarded by : Huang Jiawen | Ohine Ezaki | Sana Komatsu, Masahiro Suwa & Franziska van Wulfen | July 30, 2025 |
| 55 | 5 | "White Tiger" Transliteration: "Hakuko" (Japanese: 白虎) | Directed by : Motohiko Niwa Storyboarded by : Daiki Yonemori & Shingo Kaneko | Keigo Koyanagi | Sana Komatsu & Franziska van Wulfen | August 6, 2025 |
| 56 | 6 | "Leaving Port" Transliteration: "Shukkō" (Japanese: 出港) | Wataru Arakawa | Satoshi Ōshio | Sana Komatsu & Masahiro Suwa | August 13, 2025 |
| 57 | 7 | "Arriving in Q'ten Lo" Transliteration: "Ku'ten Rou Jōriku" (Japanese: クテンロウ上陸) | Takanori Yamamoto | Satoshi Ōshio | Franziska van Wulfen | August 20, 2025 |
| 58 | 8 | "Orochi" (Japanese: 大蛇) | Directed by : Kazuho Kunimoto, Takehiro Kubota, Masahiro Suwa & Hitoshi Haga Storyboarded by : Tetsuro Tanaka & Hidetoshi Namura | Keigo Koyanagi | Sana Komatsu & Masahiro Suwa | August 27, 2025 |
| 59 | 9 | "Zodia" (Japanese: ゾディア) | Directed by : Hitoshi Haga & Haruka Watanabe Storyboarded by : Hitoshi Haga | Mika Tanaka | Franziska van Wulfen | September 3, 2025 |
| 60 | 10 | "Prayer" Transliteration: "Inori" (Japanese: 祈り) | Directed by : Se-Ting Liang Storyboarded by : Yusuke Kubo | Yoshikazu Tominaga | Sana Komatsu, Masahiro Suwa & Kōta Sera | September 10, 2025 |
| 61 | 11 | "Oracle Miko" Transliteration: "Shintaku no Miko" (Japanese: 神託の巫女) | Directed by : Xiaoyue Zhu Storyboarded by : Hidetoshi Namura & Toshihiko Masuda | Ohine Ezaki | Masahiro Suwa & Sana Komatsu | September 17, 2025 |
| 62 | 12 | "Return of the Emperor" Transliteration: "Tenmei no Kikan" (Japanese: 天命の帰還) | Takanori Yamamoto | Keigo Koyanagi | Sana Komatsu, Franziska van Wulfen & Masahiro Suwa | September 24, 2025 |