# Where to Watch The Rising of the Shield Hero

**The Rising of the Shield Hero streams on Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Netflix, and it's the isekai for anyone who likes their underdog stories with real teeth. Naofumi is yanked into another world as one of four summoned heroes, handed the 'weakest' weapon, a shield that can't attack, and then, almost immediately, framed and abandoned by everyone meant to stand beside him. What makes it stick isn't the fantasy trappings but the slow, bitter climb back: a betrayed man learning to trust again without letting himself break. It runs angrier and more emotionally charged than most of its genre, and that's exactly the draw.**

## Where to Watch

- [Crunchyroll](https://www.crunchyroll.com/the-rising-of-the-shield-hero)
- [Hulu](https://www.hulu.com/series/9bfde086-7d79-48e5-a429-e065cfdc4d07)
- [Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/title/81058649)

All three services carry the series, so it's an easy one to begin. Crunchyroll keeps you in step with the sequels and the broader library, while Hulu and Netflix are the effortless route if you already pay for either.

## Synopsis

Naofumi Iwatani is an ordinary fan of games and manga until he is pulled out of a library and into a parallel world, named one of its four Cardinal Heroes. His assigned role, the Shield Hero, is treated as a punchline: he can guard but never strike, and he depends on allies he doesn't yet have. When a devastating betrayal robs him of his reputation and his only companion, he's left with nothing but the shield on his arm and a hardening distrust of everyone around him. Cornered and furious, Naofumi resolves to grow strong enough that no one can throw him away again, and to prove wrong the world that wrote him off.

## Fast Facts

- **Format:** TV
- **Episodes:** 25
- **Premiered:** 2019
- **Studio:** kinema citrus co., ltd.
- **Score:** 7.7

## Watch Order

Begin here. This is the first season, the origin of Naofumi's story and the setup for everything the later seasons build on.

- [Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari Season 2](https://hozuna.com/anime/the-rising-of-the-shield-hero-season-2) — sequel

## If You Liked This

- **[Re:Zero](https://hozuna.com/anime/re-zero)** — The gold standard for isekai that puts its lead through the wringer. If you connect with Naofumi's suffering-into-strength arc, this takes that idea even further.
- **[Solo Leveling](https://hozuna.com/anime/solo-leveling)** — Another weak-to-unstoppable climb where a written-off protagonist grinds his way to power. It hits the same satisfying nerve as watching the Shield Hero rise.
- **[Overlord](https://hozuna.com/anime/overlord)** — A colder, more self-interested isekai led by an outsider who owes the world nothing. A great next step if you like heroes operating strictly on their own terms.
- **[No Game No Life](https://hozuna.com/anime/no-game-no-life)** — A brighter, brainier take on being dropped into a fantasy world, for when you want the genre's fun without the gut-punches.
- **[Frieren: Beyond Journey's End](https://hozuna.com/anime/frieren-beyond-journey-s-end)** — 
- **[Re:Zero Season 4](https://hozuna.com/anime/re-zero-season-4)** — 
- **[Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood](https://hozuna.com/anime/fullmetal-alchemist-brotherhood)** — 
- **[Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc](https://hozuna.com/anime/chainsaw-man-reze-arc)** — 

## FAQ

### Where can I watch The Rising of the Shield Hero?

It streams on Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Netflix, so pick whichever you already use.

### How many episodes is the first season?

The first season is 25 episodes, a full-length run that gives Naofumi's story room to breathe.

### What order should I watch it in?

Start with this first season. The later seasons continue directly from here.

### Is The Rising of the Shield Hero good for newcomers to isekai?

Yes. Its revenge-and-redemption angle makes it stand out from the pack, so it works whether isekai is new to you or very familiar.