Raphtalia

Raphtalia is the main heroine and deuteragonist of the anime The Rising of the Shield Hero. She is a tanuki (raccoon dog)-type demi-human with distinctive fluffy ears on top of her head and a bushy tail. In the anime, she starts as a sickly, timid young child slave with long, unkempt, dirty hair, wearing rags and showing visible signs of neglect and illness when Naofumi Iwatani (the Shield Hero) first purchases her.

Due to her demi-human nature, where growth accelerates with leveling up through combat and experience, she quickly matures physically into the appearance of a beautiful teenage/young adult woman after traveling and fighting alongside Naofumi. Her mature form features long auburn (reddish-brown) hair with two prominent locks framing her face/chest, pinkish-red or tea-red eyes, and a lean yet increasingly athletic build from adventuring. She typically wears practical adventurer attire like a red-and-black dress or outfit with armor elements, later shifting to more ceremonial or warrior-style clothing as the story progresses.

Personality-wise, Raphtalia begins as extremely timid, fearful, and traumatized from losing her village and family to the Waves, as well as her enslavement. Under Naofumi's care (which heals her physically and emotionally without abuse), she grows into a loyal, courageous, responsible, and strong-willed companion. She becomes fiercely protective of Naofumi, skilled with a sword (often using illusion magic to enhance her attacks), and serves as his most trusted ally and emotional support, developing deep affection for him while acting as the more level-headed voice in their group.