The Shield Hero anime is based on the light novel. The light novel provides the source material for the anime's plot, character development, and overall world - building. It's common for animes to be based on light novels or web novels as they already have an established story and fan base. In the case of Shield Hero, the anime tries to stay true to the original light novel as much as possible while also making some adjustments for the medium of animation, like pacing and visual representation.
It follows the light novel quite closely. Most of the major plot points are the same.
In many ways, yes. But there are some differences here and there to adapt to the manga format and style.
No, it wasn't. The Shield Hero light novel doesn't fall into the harem anime category.
Overall, the end of the Shield Hero web novel ties up loose ends nicely. The main character reaches a state of balance and justice, but there are sacrifices and lessons learned along the way.
The anime ends at a certain point in the story, but it doesn't cover everything from the light novel. There are still many plotlines and developments in the novel that haven't been shown in the anime.
It depends on what you like. If you prefer a more visual and fast - paced experience, the anime might be better for you. It has great animation and voice acting that can bring the story to life quickly.
The main plotline is generally the same. The story of the Shield Hero being summoned to the other world and facing various challenges is present in both. The key characters, like the Shield Hero himself, Raphtalia, and Filo, are also in both the anime and the light novel, with their main characteristics intact.
The anime often has to condense the story. For example, some minor plot details and character backstories in the light novel might be cut in the anime. Also, the pacing can be different. In the light novel, the author can take more time to build up the world and characters, while the anime might rush through certain parts to fit within the episode limit.
Yes, in general they are. The covers of the Shield Hero anime often capture the essence of the characters and key elements from the light novel. They give a visual representation that is quite in line with the source material.
The Shield Hero web novel has indeed finished. It wrapped up all the character developments and story arcs in a satisfying manner.