Most people are now familiar with Tung Tung Tung Sahur, a character originally derived from the Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shan Hai Jing) who recently went viral on TikTok. His name mimics the sound of the large ceremonial drums traditionally used in Indonesia and Malaysia to announce prayer times during Ramadan.
Many regard him as a villain—destroying cities, attacking humans. But in truth, he is the most pitiful one. Once a prisoner, he agreed to undergo a drug trial in hopes of reducing his sentence and reuniting with his family. However, the experiment went awry, and he transformed into a tree-like being. Seen as a monster, he tried to explain—but could only produce the sound “tung tung tung.” To humans, this sound was shrill and unsettling, prompting fear and panic. He was captured and nearly burned alive.
Ironically, the flames that engulfed him awakened both his power and his rage. Yes, he destroyed cities. Yes, he harmed people. But he also longed to be good—he just never got the chance.
Now, 3D printing has given him that chance. As a kind of “translator,” 3D printing transforms the digital version of him into physical reality, conveying his story in tangible form to a wider audience. It offers a new way to reinterpret his character, a new beginning.
This technology empowers characters to break through the digital dimension. Using bio-based PLA material, the printed figure of the wooden-stick man captures every joint’s rough texture—accurately reflecting the cracked bark-like skin of his tree form and turning his post-experiment mutated body into physical evidence of tragedy.
This transformation from digital to physical is not just a “material rebirth” of the character—it also showcases the industrial value of 3D printing as a medium for dimensional transcendence.
That’s why 3D printing is so valuable for animation and fandom culture:
- It enables high-precision character detail reproduction
- It dramatically shortens production cycles—complex models can be printed within hours
- It supports personalized customization to meet fans’ unique needs
- It reduces mold costs and material waste, improving efficiency
Today, the 3D-printed model of Tung Tung Tung Sahur is no longer just a collectible—
It’s a testbed for techno-humanism.
- To Western audiences: The Ramadan drumbeat (“Tung Tung”) becomes a tactile symbol, transforming from exotic curiosity into a heartbeat of a prisoner longing to be heard.
- To Eastern audiences: The mortise-and-tenon joint design metaphorically reflects an Eastern philosophy—that even a dismantled life can be rebuilt.
- To the character himself: The physical existence held in the hands of millions finally grants him the visibility he never received in his AI universe.
“Every wooden stick warmed by human hands is a spark against prejudice.”
This is the ultimate power of 3D printing—not just in manufacturing, but in meaning.
In the moment the material solidifies, the tears of a virtual character finally find their path into the real world.
