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Funimation to Stream Rising of the Shield Hero Anime, Crunchyroll Announces Dub Cast

FUNimation Entertainment announced on Thursday that it will stream the simuldub of The Rising of The Shield Hero anime. The dub will premiere on Funimation's service on January 9 in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.

Crunchyroll already announced plans to stream the series with English subtitles and a dub, but confirmed on Thursday that its dubbed episodes will debut on the same day as its subtitled episodes. Crunchyroll also announced the show's English dub cast:

• Billy Kametz as Naofumi Iwatani, the Shield Hero
• Erica Mendez as Raphtalia, a demi-human
• Brianna Knickerbocker as Filo, a member of the avian species known as Filolial
• Alan Lee as Ren Amaki, the Sword Hero
• Xander Mobus as Motoyasu Kitamura, the Spear Hero
• Erik Scott Kimerer as Itsuki Kawasumi, the Bow Hero

Crunchyroll is producing the dub as its first simultaneous dub title.

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. Crunchyroll will also premiere the anime worldwide outside of Asia on January 9.

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. Crunchyroll premiered the first dubbed episode at Crunchyroll Expo on September 3 with guests from the anime.

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!

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. Crunchyroll is co-producing the show with Kadokawa.

Dance vocal group MADKID will perform the opening theme song "RISE." Chiai Fujikawa will perform the ending theme song "Kimi no Namae" (Your Name).

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 the 12th volume shipped on Friday . One Peace Books released the ninth volume in August.

Sources: Funimation, Crunchyroll