Buzz
Iwatani Naofumi, the main character in Shield Hero, has numerous female companions on his journey, which is positively received by the audience.
The Rising of the Shield Hero is a relatively new and exciting isekai anime, listed among the most anticipated anime of the spring 2022 season. The story revolves around the shield hero Iwatani Naofumi's misfortune and his mission to fight against monsters alongside his companions.
The concept of a harem in anime may not be entirely new, but it has always been a contentious issue when it becomes a secondary tag in isekai anime. Firstly, harems are often seen as extraneous, forced elements of the story - many harems are created primarily to appease the audience rather than serve the story. The characters in the harem often appear because of coercion, adding little to no substance or development to the story, sometimes accompanied by very illogical reasons. As a result, harems have gradually been viewed as nonsensical, hollow tropes by anime fans. However, that's not the worst part.
On another level, some harems are simply meant to satisfy the male audience. It's understandable to introduce a few attractive female characters to attract viewers, but when the male protagonist is irrationally drawn to create romantic competition, the story becomes much worse. Very few isekai characters, like Kirito from Sword Art Online or Mochizuki Touya from In Another World With My Smartphone, actually have enough interaction time to win the affection of the girls, while most other cases are mere fantasies. It seems audiences have grown weary of the average protagonist trope who becomes a savior in the isekai world with a sword in hand or powerful magic and is surrounded by girls.
In some extreme aspects, harem members are often treated as mere rewards or collectibles by the main character, which is a demeaning and offensive act towards them. These members rarely make significant contributions to the main character's story. However, some isekai anime titles have attempted to change this narrative. My Next Life as a Villainess is a prime example of crafting a harem with healthy, carefully nurtured relationships. Additionally, we cannot overlook The Rising of the Shield Hero, an anime that is considered to have shattered stereotypes associated with isekai harems.
The true companions of Iwatani Naofumi
The harem in Shield Hero is a daring innovation, introducing many fresh elements. The most traditional character archetype is Raphtalia, a tanuki girl who has been with Naofumi the longest. However, she deeply admires him, considering him a steadfast companion and being the first to befriend him. The rest of the harem in this anime is completely different from what typical isekai anime explores.
First and foremost, it's essential to emphasize that the members of Naofumi's group are too young to be considered romantic relationship targets or to fulfill fan service roles. Notably, Princess Melty (around 11-12 years old) and Filo, a character who appears to be only a few weeks old with the appearance of a grade school girl. Raphtalia also starts as a child when Naofumi rescues her from slavery, but over time, she grows up and enters a near-adult age.
Shield Hero almost entirely avoids exploiting fan service with these female characters, except for Raphtalia. The others have no romantic involvement with Naofumi. This helps the show steer clear of typical harem scenarios. Melty simply sees Naofumi as an ally, while Filo and Raphtalia view him as a father figure.
Each female character in Naofumi's group has a distinct role. Raphtalia is adopted because Naofumi cannot wield a sword or bow, and she becomes his capable assistant. Later, Naofumi purchases Filo's egg and turns her into a beast to aid his team, with Filo's main job being pulling the cart to assist. Meanwhile, Princess Melty acts as a bridge between Naofumi and the queen - one of his few allies in the kingdom of Melromarc. Her joining the group helps Naofumi expedite the process of being recognized as a hero once again. Due to the clear role division and relationship development, Shield Hero significantly alters viewers' impressions of the harem concept in isekai anime.
