Inspired by the light novel series of the same name by Aneko Yusagi and Seira Minami, The Rising of the Shield Hero or Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari is a dark fantasy isekai anime. The series centers on Naofumi Iwatani, an ordinary otaku from Japan who is summoned to the kingdom of Melromarc in an alternate world as one of the cardinal heroes. Armed with a powerful shield, he is designed to protect humans from the interdimensional hordes of monsters that periodically attack the kingdom. The Isekai series was first released on January 9, 2019 and became an instant hit.
However, the second part of the anime failed to generate the same hype and received a lot of criticism from critics for the poor writing and predictable plot and fight sequences. With the season 2 finale premiering, viewers are sure to be excited to learn more about the continuation of the series and the chances of a comeback. If you also love the series and have the same curiosity, then we have something for you.
The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 3 Release Date
The second season of The Rising of the Shield Hero was released on April 6, 2022 and ended its lengthy run a few weeks later on June 29, 2022. The second season consists of thirteen episodes, each with a running time of approximately 22-24 minutes .
As for the extension of the Isekai series, there is good news for fans. The anime was already greenlit for the second and third seasons at Crunchyroll Expo 2019. Although The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 was slated to premiere in 2021, the release dates have been pushed back due to the global coronavirus pandemic – which of course also delayed the third episode.
In the post-credits scene of the Season 2 finale, the continuation of the series was confirmed with a short message stating: Naofumi and his allies are still on their arduous journey. The second season includes only 9 volumes of the light novel series by Aneko Yusagi and Seira Minami, 22 volumes of which are already circulating domestically. Therefore, the production of the anime is most likely already underway thanks to the early renewal combined with the availability of the source material.
Although the last season didn’t generate the same hype as the first episode and also has an average rating on most online platforms, these factors are no longer decisive for the anime’s return. Taking all of the above factors into account, and assuming production doesn’t experience any delays and is already underway, we can expect The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 3 to premiere sometime in early 2023.
The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 3 Plot: What can it be about?
In Season 3, Naofumi and his group will head to the land of mercenaries known as Zeltoble. There he will learn about the Colosseum, a place where warriors fight in groups or individually for glory and fortune. Though uninterested in any of these things, the shield hero eventually enters the competition when he learns of a cruel slave market operating beneath the Colosseum.
However, freeing the demi-human slaves will not be as easy as he imagined. Meanwhile, Raphtalia meets Sadeena, an old family friend who was away when the family was brutally murdered by an interdimensional horde of monsters. Once the fight between Raphtalia and Sadeena in the Coliseum is over, Naofumi frees her from Zeltoble. Sadeena will eventually develop a romantic interest in the shield hero and express her feelings very clearly.
However, Naofumi will rebuff her flirty advances. Meanwhile, the shield hero has to deal with assassins who are determined to kill him. Despite the constant dangers that come his way, Naofumi will keep his focus on finding the other Cardinal Heroes, which will land him in even more trouble.
