Bringing Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra to the Fans with Director Yuji Yanase and Producer Yuki Mukai

There's nothing quite like Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra—an isekai series that takes place within the world of a 4X-type of strategy game, in which our protagonist (with the help of characters from the game) creates and rules over an evil kingdom. It has dark moments, villain protagonists, nation-building, a giant bug queen, and plenty of other things you could imagine landing on your wishlist (which I'm sure you obviously keep on-hand) for such a series. And knowing that this series is so unique, we were thrilled to have the opportunity to speak to its director, Yūji Yanase, and producer, Yūki Mukai, about all things Mynoghra.

What drew you to Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra anime project?

Yūji Yanase: When I was offered the project, I read the original work, and I was drawn to it because I became interested in a world I wasn't familiar with—such as the stories of games.

Yūki Mukai: I would say the work falls under the isekai fantasy genre, but because it places “evil” at its core, I felt that its dark worldview would give it a distinctly different flavor from other works when adapted into animation.

Having worked on titles that take place in a video game or fantasy setting, what do you enjoy the most about working in this genre?

YANASE: It may just be by coincidence, but many of the works I've been involved in are ones where good people don't suffer losses and no one dies. I especially enjoy working on them because they convey the idea that if you do the right thing, you will be rewarded.

MUKAI: When a project is based on an existing game or world, one of the things I really enjoy is working with the team to figure out how to create visuals that will resonate with viewers—of course, while making sure we don't step on any rights (laughs).

What do you think makes Atou and Takuto characters that the audience can support?

YANASE: I think viewers will be drawn to seeing Atou and Takuto happily doing things that would be impossible in the real world.

MUKAI: The two may be seen as “evil” in the eyes of the world, but when you focus on the relationship between Atou and Takuto, I think there's a strong sense of trust there. I feel that this duality is what further deepens the appeal of the characters.

What's your favorite part about protagonists who are considered the villains in their world?

YANASE: What I like is that while they may appear to be evil, they're not truly evil. Even though Takuto and the others are regarded as villains, I appreciate how they try to live their lives without causing trouble for others.

MUKAI: Even though Atou and Takuto are regarded as villains, what I like is how they still show unconditional kindness toward themselves and those around them. It's something that outsiders can't see, yet it serves as the driving force behind the protagonists' actions.

Do you like playing 4X type of strategy games (like Sid Meier's Civilization) like the one in the world in Mynoghra?

YANASE: To be honest, I've never really had much connection to games and have hardly ever played them, but I do want to give them a try.

MUKAI: I haven't actually played it myself, but I feel that something more like a simulation game—where you take your time and really think things through—suits me better than an intense action game.

What are the biggest obstacles that come with depicting the story within a 4X type of strategy game, and how have you overcome them?

YANASE: Since I've hardly ever played games, it took me some time to fully grasp the world and settings of the game. However, I was able to overcome that by repeatedly reading the original work.

MUKAI: In the original novel, it was difficult to grasp every single reference or source of inspiration that the author had in mind. However, during the process of creating the anime scenario, I made sure to consult the author whenever necessary and also asked our in-house staff who are knowledgeable about games. By doing so, I tried to stay mindful of preserving the settings and worldview that the original work intended.

There was a brutal scene where Atou slaughtered a bunch of soldiers. How did you approach this moment?

YANASE: For the brutal scenes, I was careful to make sure the blood didn't appear too realistic. I asked that the color be changed from red to black.

MUKAI: In the early part of the story, there are many peaceful scenes of nation-building, but from this scene in the middle, I saw it as an important turning point where the story begins to take on a more serious tone. With the director handling everything from the key animation to the direction, I think it became a truly memorable scene.

Do you have any behind-the-scenes stories you can share with us?

YANASE: At first, I thought Emle was really cute, but as I kept drawing, I also grew fond of Caria. I really enjoyed working on them.

MUKAI: If I had to pick one example, it would be from episode 3, where there's a cut featuring the “human-meat tree.” Thanks to an animator's ad-lib, a cut was created where the tree and the villagers are dancing together. The director was surprised at first, but after seeing the finished footage, he seemed to really like it (laughs).

Are there any details in Mynoghra that you'd love to talk about, but never get asked about?

YANASE: Actually, I really like Caria's and Maria's maniacal facial expressions. Drawing them was so much fun that I was able to work faster than I ever imagined.

MUKAI: In terms of visual expression, I discussed with the director how to convey Mynoghra's sense of evil, and we set different levels of darkness on the screen. Through this, I think we were able to express the light and shadow of the characters' emotions.

Do you have any messages you'd like to share with fans of Mynoghra?

YANASE: The story of Mynoghra is still far from over, so I hope you will continue to support both the anime and the original work!!

MUKAI: Whether you're a longtime fan of the original work or discovering Mynoghra for the first time through the anime, I hope you'll enjoy experiencing the appeal of Atou, Takuto, and the others as characters, as well as the series' unique worldview, through the animation.

Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.