The YouTube Live special for the television anime of Aneko Yusagi's The Rising of the Shield Hero (Tate no Yūsha no Nariagari) fantasy light novel series unveiled additional cast members, the January 9 premiere date along with the series' half-year length, the second promotional video, and a new key visual on Saturday. The new promotional video debuts Filo's voice and features the opening theme song "Rise" by Madkid.





The newly announced cast members are:



Sarah Emi Bridcutt as Myne, Naofumi's first companion Yutaka Nakano as Aultcray Melromarc XXXII, the king of the alternate world kingdom Melromarc which summoned Naofumi

Hiroki Yasumoto as Elhart, the well-built man who runs Melromarc's weapons shop



The series will premiere with a two-hour special on AT-X on January 9 at 10:00 p.m. and will run for two consecutive cours or a half-year. The series will also run on the Tokyo MX, TV Aichi, KBS Kyoto, Sun TV, TVQ Kyūshū Broadcasting, and BS11 channels. It will start streaming in Japan on Hikari TV and other services on January 9 at 11:30 p.m.

Before the formal launch, the first episode will get special preview screenings on Hikari TV on December 27 at 11:30 p.m. followed by the Niconico Live, Abema TV, and AT-X services. The Internet radio station Onsen will stream a web radio program with personality hosts Asami Seto and Rina Hidaka.

One Peace Books is releasing the novel series and Aiya Kyū's manga adaptation in English. The publisher describes the novels' first compiled book volume:

Naofumi Iwatani, an uncharismatic otaku who spends his days on games and manga, suddenly finds himself summoned to a parallel universe! He discovers he is one of four heroes equipped with legendary weapons and tasked with saving the world from its prophesied destruction. As the Shield Hero, the weakest of the heroes, all is not as it seems. Naofumi is soon alone, penniless, and betrayed. With no one to turn to, and nowhere to run, he is left with only his shield. Now, Naofumi must rise to become the legendary Shield Hero and save the world!

The main voice cast includes:



Kaito Ishikawa as Naofumi Iwatani, the Shield Hero Asami Seto as Raphtalia, a demi-human

Yoshitsugu Matsuoka as Ren Amaki, the Sword Hero

Makoto Takahashi as Motoyasu Kitamura, the Spear Hero

Yoshitaka Yamaya as Itsuki Kawasumi, the Bow Hero

Rina Hidaka as Filo, a Filolial Queen and a member of the avian species known as Filolial Maaya Uchida as Melty, a girl Naofumi Iwatani met among the Filolials

Takao Abo (Norn9) is directing the anime at Kinema Citrus. Keigo Koyanagi (Regalia: The Three Sacred Stars) is in charge of series composition. Masahiro Suwa (Chaika - The Coffin Princess animation director) is adapting Minami Seira's original character designs for animation.

The main staff also includes:

Design Leader: Takeshi Takakura

Design Assistant: Shinpei Wada

Monster Design: Satoshi Mori (Gift Animation)

Action Setting: Yuka Kuroda

Prop Design: Ayako Sugimura

Color Design: Anna Okamatsu (Kinema Citrus)

Visual Advisor: Osamu Masuyama (Inspired)

Art: Shinsuke Kinoshita (Inspired), Sachiko Nishiguchi (Inspired), Seiko Akashi (Studio Uni)

3D CG Director: Yuushi KOSHIDA (Orange)

2D Artist: hydekick

Motion Graphics: Hidekatsu Uemura (Sublimation)

Director of Photography: Yukiyo Kajiwara

Editing: Hitomi Sudō

Sound Production: Glovision

Sound Director: Fumiyuki Go

Composer: Kevin Penkin

Music Production: Hiromitsu Iijima (IRMA LA DOUCE), Shunichi Uemura (Nippon Columbia)

Chiai Fujikawa will perform the ending theme song "Kimi no Namae" (Your Name).

Crunchyroll will stream the anime with both English subtitles and dubbing as it airs in Japan. Crunchyroll premiered the first dubbed episode at Crunchyroll Expo on September 3 with guests from the anime.

MF Books published the novel series' 19th compiled volume in January, and the 20th volume will ship on December 25. One Peace Books released the 12th volume in August.

Kyū launched the manga adaptation in Media Factory's Monthly Comic Flapper magazine in 2014, and Media Factory released the 11th volume on July 23. The 12th volume will ship on December 21. One Peace Books released the ninth volume in August.

Sources: The Rising of The Shield Hero anime's official website, Comic Natalie