Kit Review

Straight build

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis (1/9)

Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis (2/9)

Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis (3/9)

Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis (4/9)

Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis (5/9)

Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis (6/9)

Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis (7/9)

Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis (8/9)

Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis (9/9)

Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis - The 6 rockets aren't actually attached to the back — they float behind it, so you display them using a

The 6 rockets aren't actually attached to the back — they float behind it,
so you display them using a separate stand part and clear support rods.

Rear view with the rockets removed

Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis - Detail shots (1/5)

Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis - Detail shots (2/5)

Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis - Detail shots (3/5)

Detail shots

The tail (?) is represented using thick wire.

Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis - The electronic harpoon "Vas-Alos" is fixed at the hand position using clear parts. Since Anu

The electronic harpoon "Vas-Alos" is fixed at the hand position using clear parts.
Since Anubis basically has no finger structures to speak of, this is the only way to secure it.

Opening/closing action of the rockets

Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis - By using two different types of clear support rods, you can display the rockets in either a spread-out

By using two different types of clear support rods,
you can display the rockets in either a spread-out or gathered formation.

The clear support rods can also be locked at two different angles.

The heel deployment gimmick works as well.

Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis - The gimmick where the cockpit section rises upward (erection? lol) is also reproduced. This really is

The gimmick where the cockpit section rises upward (erection? lol) is also reproduced.
This really is quite a grotesque series....

Leftover parts

The articulation is pretty unusual —
the knees bend forward instead of backward.

Double hip joints are used, so the legs can swing inward.

Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis - There's a gimmick where the shoulders can push forward, but the shoulders pop off so frequently that I

There's a gimmick where the shoulders can push forward, but the shoulders pop off so frequently that I'm scared to use it.. ;;

Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis - Vas-Alos action pose (1/3)

Vas-Alos action pose

Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis - Rockets spread wide with arms crossed pose (1/4)

Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis - Rockets spread wide with arms crossed pose (2/4)

Rockets spread wide with arms crossed pose

Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis - Pointing pose (1/5)

Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis - Pointing pose (2/5)

Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis - Pointing pose (3/5)

Pointing pose

Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis - Rockets gathered, standing quietly (1/3)

Rockets gathered, standing quietly

Using separate clear joint parts, the rockets can be attached to Jehuty.

Rockets attached to Jehuty's back.
Doesn't really suit it..

Together with Jehuty.
A grotesque phallic-worship design series....

This kit is a plastic model of Anubis, the final boss from the game Z.O.E. (Zone of the Enders). Like the previous Jehuty and Vic Viper, it's a design that absolutely requires a stand — and Anubis even includes a dedicated stand for its 6 large rockets, so the whole stand setup is quite complex.

First off, Anubis refers to the ancient Egyptian god of the dead, depicted with a jackal's head and a human body. This kit really captures that image well, giving it the feel of a dark grim reaper mechanized into mecha form. The 6 large rockets positioned on the back add a significant part count, and the overall volume once completed is pretty impressive.

The large rockets look at first glance like binders attached to the back, but they're actually meant to give the impression of floating in mid-air — displayed by surrounding the rear like a folding screen using a separate stand base and clear supports. Two types of clear supports are included: a straight type and a curved type, letting you arrange the rockets in a circular or linear formation. On top of that, the supports can be adjusted to two different angles, so you can spread the rockets out in various configurations — it's well thought out.

The articulation itself is pretty good, but notably the knee joints are reverse-jointed, bending forward rather than backward. This lets you pull off some wonderfully bizarre poses compared to other kits, and combined with the elongated electronic harpoon "Vas-Alos" and the large rockets, you can strike some really unique action poses. Being able to spread those big rockets wide open and deploy them at various angles means that with the right pose, this can make for a pretty striking display model.

That said, the shoulder joints pop off frequently, so you need to be careful when posing, and there are so many things to fiddle with just to get a pose set that it can get tedious. In particular, the part around the rear end that secures the stand is weak, and while posing the kit on the stand, the rear end can crack open (;;;).

This is the part labeled F1 in the manual photo above — as you can see, the stand peg hole isn't built into the lower body itself; instead, a separate part with the mounting hole gets plugged in. The problem is that the F1 part is fragile and can split under stress — literally a rear-end rupture.. T_T In my case, I had to slather the cracked rear with glue just to get it back on the stand. This really feels like a design oversight from Kotobukiya due to their lack of experience. So if you're building this kit, I'd strongly recommend gluing the F1 part down completely from the start..

In terms of overall quality, it's decent enough for a Kotobukiya kit, but the sheer number of parts thanks to those 6 large rockets makes for a pretty grueling build. The plastic is also quite hard, so watch out — trimming the gate marks can leave your fingers numb. On the flip side, the massive volume and unique visual you get once it's done make it a pretty rewarding kit — though the ¥7,800 price tag might be a tough pill to swallow..

Anyway, it's definitely a niche kit for Z.O.E. fans, but the powerful visual makes it a fun build in its own right. The weak rear end feels a bit unbalanced compared to those beefy thighs (....??) but you've got to give it credit for sheer personality. :-)

Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis Z.O.E. Anubis | 2013. 9 | ¥7,800

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.