Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra Anime Review: The Evil Faces of Mynoghra

Evil people can do good things and they can do bad things. Being bad means being selfish and totally free. They believe in only what they think is right, never listen to others and charge ahead without ever looking back. That's what makes someone truly evil.

The Evil Faces of Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra

A person's death and reincarnation have been catalysts for many stories in Japanese media. Known as isekai, the concept has led to stories of great power, harems, and other wish-fulfillment fantasies. It is a great starting point that opens up plenty of potential for world-building and character growth.

Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra; World Conquest Starts with the Civilization of Ruin does not deviate from this formula. 

The first scene is a familiar sight for isekai anime viewers. Protag-kun, Takuto Ira, is shown weakly using his laptop from his bed. Without giving specifics, the scene proceeds with Takuto falling face-first onto his desk and taking his last breath before being transported to another world, where he meets Atou the Sludge.

The cute and wonderful Atou is more than happy to bring the apocalypse on Takuto's behalf. 

"Meets" isn't really the perfect word. "Reunites" may be more appropriate. You see, Atou and Takuto are not strangers. Deprived of a strong body, Takuto spent most of his time playing and excelling at Eternal Nations, a simulation strategy game where Atou is his favorite character. For her part, Atou remembers all the conquests she shared with Takuto during his countless hours of mastering the game. This is the backbone of their ride-or-die relationship.

And this is where we begin. Using Takuto's vast knowledge of the world and Atou's power, the two set forth to build the empire of Mynoghra, conquer the world, and create many "doki-doki" moments... well... no.

Just like many isekai stories, the characters must struggle to make their eventual conquest feel earned. The two begin in the worst location imaginable: a thick forest devoid of settlements for trade and with no obvious source of raw materials. And unlike other shows like The Genius Prince's Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt or How a Realist Hero Rebuilt a Kingdom, our main characters aim to build Mynoghra all by themselves. Add to that the fact that they are not overpowered... or at least not in the beginning. Fortunately, Takuto has enough mana to summon this:

Takuto's insectoid scout in Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra

The three of them hardly qualify as an empire. A hamlet would even be too generous. This changes when the scout discovers a group of dark elves who eventually stumble upon our main characters. And this is where we see Takuto through the eyes of his new world.

He ain't a looker - Takuto's terrifying appearance from the dark elves' perspective

Banished and hunted, the group of dark elves is left with no choice but to enter the cursed woodlands that would become Mynoghra. Famished from the unending pursuit, they see the manifestation of pure evil: Takuto. The cold embrace of fear envelops them before the evil incarnate. Gia, their great soldier, attempts to reason with the great evil and explain their plight, only for the cold-hearted Atou the Sludge to browbeat him into giving a quick explanation of their trespass.

As with all "evil" entities, Takuto pities the lot and feeds the starving group. He introduces fruits endemic to his home world and alien to the dark elves, using his small amount of mana to Atou's chagrin. Surprised by the charity, the elves take bites of the fruits and are overwhelmed by their sumptuous taste. Takuto provides enough for the dark elves to return to their main group and share the bountiful gift of the dark lord.

Takuto, the "great" king of Mynoghra, surely wears the pants in the relationship

Back at camp, Gia sits by a fire alone. This is where the dark elven chief, Elder Moltar, questions the soldier about the source of the exquisite fruits. This is where we learn of sacred texts and tales of the evil King of Ruin, sealed away in the accursed forest, who will rain terror upon the world. Moltar is initially taken aback and upset by the positive light Gia is projecting onto the King of Ruin. But upon realizing his group's desperate state, he acknowledges that he needs to negotiate with the King.

And that is the gist of episode one. If you are in Southeast Asia, the show is available in Muse Asia's Youtube channel.

Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra has its ups and downs. The beginning of the anime leaves a lot to be desired as the supporting dark elf characters are not as strong as, for example, Rimuru  and the goblins of Tensura. The first episode's main dark elves barely felt consequential to the plot of the story. Gia, in particular, was pretty insignificant throughout the entire season. Emle's accomplishments as an interior secretary of sorts seem minimized considering the actual construction of the homes and planting of the main crop were kept in the background. And Moltar's moments came very late in the season.

That being said, Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra does have some decent characters to hang onto. Caria and Maria, who were introduced in the middle of the season, initially looked like the token poor kids with dark backstories the main character is supposed to babysit to get cute moments. But their dark pasts were not simply thrown away and were the catalyst of the final battle of the season. And then there are the three brain eaters who provide levity in the midst of their horrific act in episode 8. Lonius and Verdal also provide depth, with one being the young, by-the-book paladin while the other is the more pragmatic veteran.

Ichiro, Saburo and Jiro — the three brain eaters who are definitely not human and serve as Mynoghra's medics

The animation is also not up to par with other major isekai titles. The movements in the fight scenes aren't very crisp. It may be due to a lack of budget or time, but some epic moments fell flat.

Atou playing with blades at Lonius' expense - Lonius is welcomed to Mynoghra with a hail of slashes

What it may lack in crisp movement, it makes up for with the variety of character designs and expressions. Atou, in particular, boasts an abundant array of faces that display the multiple facets of her character.

This Atou came from out of nowhere - Atou's sadistic face as she preys on some poor trespassers

But for all the praise and faults, a major concern with Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra's first season is that it feels more like a setup for a compelling story that may come in a potential second season or in the light novels from which it was adapted. The latter stages of the season started pulling layers from the world. And the tidbits exposed will surely grab attention. 

There has been no announcement of a second season as of writing which is troubling for anime-only fans. But if one is looking for a light novel to binge, the show is a decent promotional tool. But the latter part of the show really makes this particular anime viewer wish for a season two.

The highlight of the show is episode five. Atou's speech directed at her helpless opponent was deliciously sadistic and EVIL.

Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra doesn't bring anything particularly new to the table. What it does bring is decent comedy and a good weekend anime binge. It may not be a top recommendation. But it is a good addition to your watchlist on MyAnimeList. 

Got nothing to do on a weekend after a long week at work or school? Check your watchlist and Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra and the many faces of evil will be there waiting for you.

Oh and by the way... 

Watching Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra is the best way for you to know if Takuto likes little girls.