If you’re a collector of 1/12 scale anime girl action figures, then Snail Shell is a company you would be familiar with. Their stuff aren’t the typical ones you’d expect from the likes of S.H.Figuarts or Figma either. I’m not part of their target demographic, although their 1/12 Heavy Armor Tiwaz back in 2022 got my attention. It was the closest they got to an actual mecha-themed release though that was more of an exoskeleton or powered suit unit.
Fast forward to 2026 and it looks like I will be joining their target demographic, albeit because of a new plastic model kit line. From their years of experience developing and engineering pre-assembled action figures, Snail Shell now delves into model kits with Shellworks.
With the Shellworks line, Snail Shell aims to produce model kits of purely original designs. This means they will be selling kits which heavily rely on how good the it looks and builds, and without the help of any supporting media. This isn’t exactly a new thing since SNAA has been doing this with their The Round Table Knights kits. Unlike SNAA though, Snail Shell is providing substantial lore for the first release, the Shellworks 1/48 Anubis, to help provide context with quite the interesting story.
Twenty years ago, a research organization known as O.R.I.G.I.N. vanished from history without a trace. No ruins. No records of its members. No publicly available documentation. As though it had never existed. Yet the technological fragments it left behind became the starting point of a new technological revolution.
Antigravity Propulsion Systems.
High-Density Energy Cores.
Neural Synchronization Frames.
Countless technologies that transformed the world all pointed toward the same lost origin. Yet the world didn’t use them to create a better future. Instead, nations fought for control over these lost technologies, plunging the world into another prolonged era of war. And at the root of it all lies a legend that was never confirmed.
It is said that O.R.I.G.I.N. once developed the ultimate machine that transcended the technology of its time. It was not created for war. It was created to meet the future. Its name meant “An ark that carries the embers of civilization.”
In the twenty years following O.R.I.G.I.N.’s disappearance, a machine belonging to none of the known factions appeared above the battlefield of the Northern Continent’s Ninth Theater of War. Where did it come from? And why has it appeared now?ARKFRAME — A forgotten history is about to awaken.
So there’s this benevolent organization called O.R.I.G.I.N. whose purpose appears to be the advancement of humanity through technology. And the culmination of their research is embodied in the ARKFRAMES. Humanoid machines built for exploration, protection, and keys to the future. Quite the novel description for tactical humanoid weapons.
“The Ultimate Vessel That Holds the Potential for Civilization’s Survival”
A-07 ANUBIS
7th-Generation Tactical Humanoid Weapon “ANUBIS”
An experimental unit belonging to the “ORACLE” series within O.R.I.G.I.N. Its codename is derived from Anubis, the ancient Egyptian deity who guides souls and presides over the judgment of life and death.
The unit’s design incorporates a silhouette reminiscent of a jackal’s head, complemented by a white and gold color scheme. It possesses flight capabilities far beyond the limits of contemporary technology, along with overwhelming close-quarters combat prowess.
Its affiliation is unknown, as it belongs to none of the known factions. It is a machine worthy of being called a “Third Entity,” one that transcends even the established rules of warfare.
Height: Approx. 7.7 m
Pilot: Female Long-Eared Elf
Armaments
KHERU Heavy Armament Greatsword – A massive sword boasting overwhelming destructive power, capable of destroying virtually any weapon or armament.
MA’AT Offense-Defense Sword Shield – A shield capable of nullifying beam attacks, with a beam sword housed inside. By rotating the shield forward or backward, the wielder can draw the sword’s hilt.
SESHAT Beam Sword – A high-output beam sword with immense cutting power, capable of effortlessly slicing through even solid steel.
FEATHER Blade – A lightweight short sword used as a secondary weapon.
I hope Snail Shell will further expand this lore as they release more kits.
For now, let’s talk about the model kit itself. Shellworks Anubis is a 1/48 scale model kit meant to represent the fictional Anubis Arkframe, which stands at 7.7 meters. After doing the math, you will get a kit which is around 160mm tall. It is in the upper threshold of my preference on model kits but I’d gladly take it, given how it looks and the things it can do.
When you open the package, you will be greeted with 16 runners or sprues that hold 287 parts, These include a combination of normal, clear, and some pre-painted pieces. The solicitations mention that the runners utilize undergates to minimize visibility of nubs. Most of the parts also come with a matte finish which results in a premium-looking with kit, even with just straight assembly.
Most Chinese model kits typically have inner frames, either made from plastic or die cast, as main selling points. Shellworks Anubis doesn’t appear to have one, or at least they’re not advertising it as much, but I’m totally fine with it. What they have are internal mechanisms that further immerse the builder with the in-universe engineering of this machine.
As seen here, Anubis features an in-scale cockpit block just beneath the head unit. It comes with a detailed interior with displays represented with clear plastic, and controls that the included pilot figure can hold. Yes, she’s the “female long-haired elf” described in the blurb above. Two versions of the pilot are included with the kit, one standing and another one sitting, with the latter meant to be inserted in the aforementioned cockpit block. Unfortunately the pilot figures are unpainted, so you will definitely to bring out the brushes to get her looking completely accurate.
Anubis appears to have a close combat mission profile based on everything seen so far. It also means that it has to be quite articulated for those dynamic poses expected of such units. It does appear to have deep elbow and knee bends based on the photos above, as well as torso flexibility for all its sword wielding. Speaking of swords, shown below are everything that comes with the kit.
Besides the weapons and pilot figures, it also comes with replacement manipulators, face plate parts for the dual and quad-optic operating modes, a display stand that seems to double as a container of other parts, and sheets of water slide decals.
As the first model kit in the Shellworks line, Snail Shell is setting up quite the expectations with future releases moving forward. Personally, I’m inclined to put this thing along the same tier as Kotobukiya kits, or slightly above Good Smile’s MODEROID line, but still below Bandai Hobby’s offerings. I’ve already pre-ordered mine and that first impression will definitely determine any future purchases. Until then, I’ll eagerly wait for more information given how Snail Shell over at X has dumped multiple posts, in multiple languages, just to get word out regarding the Shellworks 1/48 Anubis.
Shellworks 1/48 Anubis
March 2027 / ¥3,600
Order from HobbyLink Japan
