Kadokawa officially confirmed on September 24, 2025, that The Rising of the Shield Hero will return for Season 5, dropping the announcement immediately after the Season 4 finale aired on Crunchyroll.
The reveal came with a 30-second teaser and a key visual showing a mysterious figure seated on a throne, Naofumi and his companions fighting through swirling dust and chaos, and the protagonist wearing an expression of devastating anguish.
The promotional visual features a flame with what appears to be a phoenix at the top, confirming that the most anticipated battle is finally coming to the screen.
Season 4, which ran from July 9 to September 24, 2025, with 12 episodes, left Naofumi Iwatani and his group dealing with Siltvelt’s political chaos after helping Raphtalia liberate her hometown from a corrupt emperor.
But while they were resolving that conflict, the real threat was brewing: the Phoenix, a calamity that’s been mentioned and feared since Season 3. The teaser visuals suggest this battle will be brutal and costly, with hints that Naofumi might lose someone close to him in the process.
No release date yet, but late 2026 looks likely
So far, no official release date or window has been revealed for Season 5. The creative staff hasn’t been confirmed either, though it’s highly likely Kinema Citrus will return as the animation studio, with Hitoshi Haga as director and Keigo Koyanagi handling the scripts, just like in Season 4.
Based on previous production patterns, which typically take 12 to 18 months, fans are expecting Season 5 to arrive in late 2026 or early 2027.
Original creator Aneko Yusagi expressed gratitude and teased that Season 5 will present major trials for Naofumi and his allies, questioning whether they truly want to protect the world.
Character designer Seira Minami invited fans to share in the excitement and anxiety of what’s coming. Director Hitoshi Haga noted that since Season 3, Naofumi and his companions have been preparing for the Phoenix’s resurrection, and now it’s time to see what awaits them.
New global game project announced
Alongside the Season 5 announcement, Kadokawa revealed its first global game project for The Rising of the Shield Hero on PC and smartphones. Though details are scarce, the creator praised the project’s graphics, stating it looks like the anime was turned directly into a game.
This marks the franchise’s largest interactive expansion to date, surpassing previous releases like The Rising of The Shield Hero: Relive The Animation from 2019 on Steam and the Nintendo Switch puzzle game from 2024.
The Rising of the Shield Hero started in 2019 with a 25-episode first season, followed by Season 2 in 2022, Season 3 in 2023, and Season 4 in 2025. The series follows Naofumi Iwatani, an ordinary otaku transported to a parallel world as the Shield Hero, one of four legendary heroes.
After being betrayed and falsely accused by Princess Malty, Naofumi must rise from disgrace and build a loyal team with Raphtalia and Filo to protect humanity from the Waves of Catastrophe. All four seasons are available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
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