The Rising of the Shield Hero - Figures
The Rising of the Shield Hero has seen a rise in popularity with the anime adaptation in Japan and abroad. Following the ever-popular isekai format, the uniqueness of a folk hero and lovable supporting cast make Shield Hero stand out. The light novel, manga, and anime art style make for beautiful figures. As the series grows in popularity, more figures from popular manufacturers like Good Smile Company are in production. Right now, the top figures feature the Shield Hero himself and his right hand, Raphtalia. However, as Filo’s role increases in the story, her number of figures are piling up as well. The best three Rising of the Shield Hero figures as of late 2020 are “The Rising of the Shield Hero Filo 1/7 Scale Figure,” “Nendoroid: The Rising of the Shield Hero Shield Hero,” and “The Rising of the Shield Hero Raphtalia Bunny Ver.1/4 Scale Figure.”
The Rising of the Shield Hero Filo 1/7 Scale Figure
This scale figure shows the giant adorable bird, Filo, in her equally adorable human form. Filo sits on a rock eating a snack with her feet raised off the ground. Her expression is surprised and her mouth forms a small “o” as she stares wide-eyed at her sandwich. Her wings are opened on her back and feature incredibly detailed carving on each individual feather. The sculpting of her long blond hair shows movement in an unseeable wind as it flows off to the side. Every ruffle on the hem of her dress and sleeves has been sculpted with precision. The layers of her dress also fold and gather irregularly to represent the reaction of different fabrics to her pose and movements. Notably, the sandwich detail includes the scoring on the bread, ruffle of the lettuce, and small peek of meat in the middle.
Product Name: The Rising of the Shield Hero Filo 1/7 Scale Figure
Release: March 2021
Manufacturer: Kadokawa
Planning/Production: KDcolle (Kadokawa)
Specifications: Painted, non-articulated, 1/7 scale ABS & PVC figure with stand
Height (Approx.): 130mm | 5.1"
The Rising of the Shield Hero Shield Hero (Nendoroid)
The Shield Hero himself, Naofumi Iwatani, gets an ever-popular Nendoroid figure that fans adore. The rounded quality of the chibi figure contrasts wonderfully with the surly, cynical nature of the series protagonist. While his standard grumpy face has its charms, the figure also features a combat expression and crying face. As the Shield Hero, the figure comes with four shields: his small shield, the Chimera Viper Shield, the Shield of Rage II, and the Air Strike Shield. The air strike shield also glows in the dark to mimic its magical aura from the anime. As a funny addition, there is also an orange balloon that can attach to Naofumi, gnawing on his arm. It does have its own stand attachment, turning the monster into a weapon for Naofumi.
Product Name: Nendoroid The Rising of the Shield Hero Shield Hero
Manufacturer: Good Smile Company
Sculptor: Shichibee
Specifications: Painted, articulated, non-scale ABS and PVC figure with optional parts and stand
Height (Approx.): 100mm | 3.9”
Includes:
Four Shield Accessories
Three expression face plates
Stand
Small orange balloon
The Rising of the Shield Hero Raphtalia Bunny Style Ver. 1/4 Scale Figure
Series favorite and Crunchyroll 2020 Best Girl winner Raphtalia now comes in a 1/4 beautifully rendered bunny figure. The figure shows her kneeling on the ground in a red, shiny bodice highlighting her curves. Her former slave crest is displayed on her chest, this time not a symbol of chattel status. The realistic effect of the latex-like bodice is enhanced by the real fishnet fabric of the tights. Instead of a bunny tail, her natural tanuki tail arches up her back. Her outfit is completed with a bowtie, wrist cuffs, and shiny red high heels. Fans love her accurately painted face, the softness of her ears, and dedication to scale.
Product Name: The Rising of the Shield Hero Raphtalia: Bunny Style Ver. 1/4 Scale Figure
Release: June 2021
Manufacturer: FREEing
Sculptor: FREEing
Specifications: Painted, non-articulated, 1/4 scale figure
Height (Approx.): 250mm | 9.8"
The Rising of the Shield Hero Series Story
In a parallel world, the heroes of four weapons--sword, spear, bow, and shield--uphold order and peace. Naofumi Iwatani, a teenager from Japan, became the shield hero tasked with fighting hordes of interdimensional monsters called Waves. While the other heroes received numerous allies and support from the kingdom, Naofumi had one single ally. This ally revealed to be the kingdom’s princess, betrays him while destroying his reputation. Now a cynical, despised societal outcast, Naofumi trains alone as a hero. His future seems decidedly bleak until the day he buys a young tanuki girl, Raphtalia, from a slave trader. Naofumi, Raphtalia, and a giant bird monster named Filo grow to trust and support each other. Together, they fight to be saviors of their world and discover the secret behind the Waves.
The Rising of the Shield Hero Series Development
The series began as a web novel on the user-generated publishing site Shosetsuka ni Narou in 2012. Author Aneko Yusagi received a publishing offer from Media Factory the following year. The series was re-released in light novel format with expanded storylines and illustrations by artist Seira Minami. A subsequent manga adaptation began in 2014. In 2017, Kadokawa and Media Factory announced the series would get an anime adaptation. The anime, from studio Kinema Citrus, premiered in 2019. By early 2019, combined light novel and manga sales topped 6.2 million and increased by another 1.2 million after the anime’s release. Initially, the series received criticism in the United States due to storylines featuring slave trade and false sexual assault reports during the #MeToo movement. However, the controversy faded and the series has confirmed a second and third season of the anime.
Links
The Rising of the Shield Hero Filo 1/7 Scale Figure
Nendoroid The Rising of the Shield Hero Shield Hero
The Rising of the Shield Hero Raphtalia Bunny Style Ver. 1/4 Scale Figure
Raphtalia Figures
The Rising of the Shield Hero Label
Filo Label
Naofumi Iwatani Label