－A Kingly Elephant, Forged in Steel－
It's not every day that a professional baseball team's mascot gets reimagined as a hardcore mecha. That's the story behind the Mammoth Kandula, a stunning tribute to the iconic elephant mascot of the CTBC Brothers, a celebrated team in Taiwan's professional baseball league. Originally released to commemorate their 2021 championship title, this figure is a must-have for fans.
But this isn't just for baseball enthusiasts. The Mammoth Kandula stands on its own as an incredible piece of mecha design. Even for collectors who aren't familiar with the team, the execution is impossible to ignore. The decision to interpret the mighty elephant in a Zoids-inspired style, complete with solid joint stability and an impressive range of motion, is a brilliant move. The mechanical detailing is well-done, and the pre-applied markings and call-signs are tastefully executed, adding to the military-hardware vibe without looking cluttered. One of the most noteworthy features is the inclusion of screw hole covers, which adds a light, enjoyable DIY element. While a few parts might need minor trimming for a perfect fit, the final result—a seamless look with no exposed screws—is incredibly satisfying and well worth the effort.
As with our usual unboxings, I'll add my thoughts and notes to each photo. Let's dive in and check it out!
↓The outer box features a dark blue base, which makes the team's signature passionate yellow pop.
↓A silver "2021 First Edition" sticker is on the top right corner.
↓The sides feature 3D renders of the Mammoth Kandula from different angles.
↓The front has a window-box design. Opening the flap reveals the Mammoth Kandula figure itself.
↓The inside of the flap is printed with line art and design sketches, a great touch for collectors.
↓Inside, the figure is secured in a transparent clamshell tray. The screw hole cover parts are in a separate plastic bag.
↓Of course, be sure to read the instruction manual first. It details the part numbers, assembly points, and the locations of some hidden joints.
↓After clipping the cover parts from the runner for assembly, you'll notice some are pre-painted. A few parts may require slight trimming for an easy fit. Since the parts are small, I recommend using a cotton swab with double-sided tape to hold the part, align it with the hole, and then push it in.
↓The cover parts for the head.
↓The gray cover parts for the shoulder.
↓The elbows and the outside of the knees also have sculpted cover parts.
↓The thrusters.
↓It's worth noting that the gray parts come pre-painted, so there's virtually no color mismatch or awkwardness after installation.
↓Before and after applying the covers. While it might not seem like a huge difference at a glance, a closer look reveals that almost all the screws are now hidden, giving it a much more finished look.
↓The steel behemoth is ready for deployment!
↓The eyes feature a light-up gimmick. Remove the head and unscrew the bottom plate to install two LR-41 batteries.
↓The switch is located on the back of the head. Press it to light up the eyes. The color is a yellowish-green, and the light isn't overly bright, making the effect most noticeable in the dark.
↓The tip of the trunk has an articulated three-pronged claw, reminiscent of a catcher's mitt.
↓Both the trunk and tusks are highly articulated. The armor plate at the base of the trunk also has a joint to reduce interference when raising it.
↓The ears have a wide range of forward and backward motion.
↓The neck features a pull-out joint. Extending the head forward increases the neck's range of motion!
↓The shoulders and hips also have swing-out joints, which, combined with the ankle pivots, provide excellent stability!
↓The ball joints in the wrists and ankles of the front and hind legs are the key to its fantastic ground-posing capability.
↓The detailed sculpting on the bottom of the feet is a nice surprise.
↓The articulation in the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees is extremely helpful for posing.
↓The waist also has a hidden extendable joint. Pulling it out unlocks a wider range of side-to-side movement.
↓The dual thruster pack on the back features upper and lower flaps that can open. It's a bit of a shame there's no molded detail on the inside.
↓The tail is also equipped with multiple joints.
↓The factory-printed logos and warning labels give it the feel of a massive war machine. It would be even cooler with a pilot figure.
↓Thanks to the powerful joints, it's super stable even when rearing up on its hind legs for a mighty roar!
↓"ROOOOAAAAARRRRR!"
This steel behemoth, the "Mammoth Kandula," serves as a fantastic monument to a championship victory. It's the kind of unique collectible you can display and, years from now, tell fellow collectors the story behind it: "This elephant comes from the year the CTBC Brothers won their eighth championship!" How cool is that?
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