The Most Controversial Isekai Anime of the Year Was Much Better as a Light Novel

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The growing popularity of isekai anime has led to several successful franchises, and one of them is particularly well-named considering how well it’s done. is a brand that has really thrived because of this trend, although it hasn’t been without some problems. Interestingly, the original story was actually stronger and didn’t have as many of the flaws that appear in the anime version.

I’ve noticed that the light novels for The Rising of the Shield Hero often get less attention than the anime, but I think they actually address a lot of the problems the anime had. Specifically, the characters are much better developed, and the world feels more fleshed out and believable in the novels. The anime is getting ready for a new season now, but in my opinion, it still doesn’t quite reach the same level of quality as the original light novels.

The Rising of the Shield Hero Divides The Isekai Anime Fandom

The anime series for The Rising of the Shield Hero began airing in 2019 and is now over five years old. The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 4 concluded in September 2025, with a fifth season quickly announced afterward. It’s remarkable that the series has remained so popular for so long, particularly since the original light novels are over ten years old. However, the increased attention from the anime has also brought some problems with the franchise to light – and these issues weren’t limited to the anime adaptation itself.

The Rising of the Shield Hero receives criticism for falling into common traps of the isekai genre, particularly with its main character. While Naofumi starts as a seemingly weak and disadvantaged hero, this perceived weakness quickly becomes a surprising advantage. Despite an initial reputation as an outcast, he doesn’t face significant hardship, and the story ultimately feels too much like other examples of wish fulfillment within the genre. This is comparable to the problems found in works like Solo Leveling, which has also drawn similar criticism.

Beyond these issues, some viewers were troubled by the way the series handled the topic of slavery. In Western audiences, a significant plot point involving a fabricated assault also caused concern. Adding to these problems is the presence of questionable content, some of which features underage characters. These aspects are understandably problematic for many, particularly considering the anime’s overall lack of originality. However, readers of the original novels are aware that a more thoughtfully developed version of The Rising of the Shield Hero exists.

The Rising of the Shield Hero’s Original Light Novels Put The Anime to Shame

The characters in The Rising of the Shield Hero anime aren’t very well-developed, which contributes to complaints that it’s simply a wish-fulfillment story. A major problem is the protagonist, Naofumi, who doesn’t have much of a personality. Beyond feeling like the world is against him, he’s a rather uninteresting character in an otherwise shallow story. The light novels, though, offer much more depth, and these details are only suggested in the often-debated anime version.

I noticed that Naofumi has a much stronger, angrier personality in this version, and a lot of what he does seems driven by a desire for revenge. While revenge stories are pretty common now, the Shield Hero novels handled it really well. They gave the character genuine pain and really explored that bitterness, which made his growth feel natural and deserved. What I also appreciated is that his cynicism didn’t feel over-the-top; he came across as a much more believable and relatable character.

The supporting characters are significantly improved, particularly the other heroes wielding weapons. The The Rising of the Shield Hero light novel delves deeper into the motivations and goals of the weapon heroes beyond Naofumi, and it provides a much clearer explanation of why they were turned against him. Consequently, they don’t appear simply as one-dimensional villains, and they play a far more important role in the story’s progression.

The worldbuilding is the biggest strength, offering much more detail and depth, which really brings the world to life. Previous iterations felt like they took place in a generic Japanese RPG setting, and the stories weren’t as strong because of it. Here, the status system, the waves of conflict, and the world’s politics are all thoroughly developed, showing that a lot of thought went into the original story. Unfortunately, this level of detail isn’t as apparent in the anime adaptation, largely because so much content was cut.

This Isekai Anime’s Worst Mistake Was Skipping Around Too Much

The anime adaptation of The Rising of the Shield Hero follows the main storyline of the original story, but it leaves out a significant amount of content. Though some of these cut scenes may have appeared minor, they were actually important for showing how the characters developed and strengthened their relationships. Season 1 of The Rising of the Shield Hero was largely very faithful to the source material, but the second half of Season 2 tried to fit in too much information. This amount of story could easily have been its own season, and it ended up feeling rushed and unsatisfying for both people new to the series and longtime fans.

I’ve noticed that later seasons of The Rising of the Shield Hero seem to cut corners, not just on the big plot points, but also on what makes characters tick and important character moments. This really takes away from the story’s core themes. It all seems to connect back to how flat Naofumi feels as a character in the anime. For example, a key reason why another character decided to become his shield is just skipped over completely. And it’s not just the moment itself that’s missing-we don’t even see the underlying reason for it, which is that Naofumi’s tough exterior hides a genuinely heroic side. The Spirit Tortoise Arc felt really rushed and disjointed, and characters like Eclair didn’t get any of the backstory they have in the light novels. Things just seemed to get more compressed in the third season and onward, cramming everything into a short 12-episode run.

The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 3 includes a time skip that feels forced, while the original light novels handle the passage of time much more smoothly. This makes the criticisms of the anime’s story, or of the isekai genre in general, understandable, as the storyline isn’t as strong as it could be. Readers of the light novels are also disappointed, though in a different way. The time skip also creates problems with pacing, leaving many scenes feeling rushed and lacking proper development. Unfortunately, while the latest short season of the anime addressed some issues, it also introduced new ones, making it unclear if The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 5 will be able to improve things from here.

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2025-10-05 17:43