The Rising of the Shield Hero has emerged as one of the most popular isekai anime of recent years, but are the Shield Hero light novel and manga still going beyond what we've seen in the adaptation?
Naofumi’s redemption story set in a fantasy land riddled with real-world issues has won many fans. However, after a disappointing season 2 adaptation, many fans are now reading the source instead.
Discover: Naofumi’s Strongest Shields in The Rising of the Shield Hero Ranked
Is The Rising of the Shield Hero Based on a Manga or Light Novel?
The Rising of the Shield Hero anime is based on the light novel of the same name written by Aneko Yusagi, first released in 2013.
22 volumes of The Rising of the Shield Hero light novel have been published. The two seasons of the anime have covered most of the first nine volumes, which gives you an indication of how much Shield Hero content there is still to enjoy!
The Rising of the Shield Hero light novel is actually an adaptation of a web novel first published on Shōsetsuka ni Narō. The light novel is essentially a professional rewrite of the original by the same author, with a refined and expanded storyline.
Some plotlines have been changed from the web novel to the light novel, and the anime follows the latter rather than the former. Because both are by the same author, the light novels are now considered the main source material.
A manga of The Rising of the Shield Hero is also available, with the first volume released in 2014. The manga is itself an adaptation of the light novels and is not the inspiration behind the anime.
The Rising of the Shield Hero Manga vs Light Novel: Which is Better?
It’s widely agreed that The Rising of the Shield Hero is best enjoyed through the light novels.
The light novels deliver the story as intended by the author. Compared to both the manga and anime adaptations, the light novel provides more details about the world and its characters which can create a richer experience.
However, not everyone enjoys stories in the same way. Just as fans have enjoyed watching the anime, so have many people enjoyed The Rising of the Shield Hero’s manga.
As mentioned above, there is also the original Shield Hero web novel. However, unless you’re curious as to how the series was created, this is largely redundant thanks to the light novel.
The argument around manga and light novels is a broad one, and which medium you prefer is up to you. However, it’s recommended that you try the light novels if you want the original experience.
Is The Rising of the Shield Hero Light Novel Finished?
While The Rising of the Shield Hero’s story hasn’t finished yet, no new light novels have been published since 2019.
At the start of the light novels, new volumes were released at a rate of around four per year. That speed slowly decreased, and only two were published in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
The last Rising of the Shield Hero light novel ended on a cliffhanger, and most fans believe many more volumes are required before the series can be concluded.
No official explanation has ever been given for why the Shield Hero light novels have been delayed. However, it's widely believed that Aneko Yusagi is still working on the series and that volume 23 will eventually arrive.
For now, we hope fans enjoy The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 3! For the latest anime news, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!