From Viral Legend to Collectible: Techno Viking in Plastic
Sandwich Toys immortalises Berlin’s viral Techno Viking and Waterboy with limited-edition action figures — own a slice of internet history today.
Remember the bare-chested, leather-necklaced dancer who brought Berlin’s Fuckparade to a standstill back in July 2000? Two decades after the shaky DV footage of his no-nonsense shuffle and stern finger-wag went online — and quickly snowballed into one of the web’s earliest truly global memes — Techno Viking is marching back into pop culture, this time in 1:18-scale plastic. Independent imprint Sandwich Toys, run by veteran rave-scene sculptor Joe Shark, partnered with old-school flyer artist Jonny Martin to mould the viral folk hero and his trusty “Waterboy” sidekick into limited-edition action figures that feel as authentic as a dusty warehouse set at 4 A.M.
This isn’t a flimsy novelty; each figure boasts hand-finished paint, swivel joints, and blister-pack artwork that could slot straight into a ’90s record-shop rack. Collectors who hit Raindance & Just-In Time Productions’ Winter Series at Mantra, Norwich, on 24 February 2023 were the first to handle the prototypes, and pre-orders on the Sandwich Toys Facebook page have been brisk ever since. Price-wise, Techno Viking retails at £40, while Waterboy — complete with his iconic bottle — lands at £20, a nod to their on-screen chemistry and a savvy upsell for completists hunting a full set.
Beyond pure nostalgia, the launch taps a booming market for meme memorabilia as fans look for tangible tokens of an increasingly screen-bound culture. By fusing rave authenticity with the shelf appeal of designer toys, Shark’s latest drop echoes his 2024 “Gurning Rave Guy” release and underscores a broader shift in internet folklore; viral clips are no longer fleeting jokes, they’re cultural landmarks that deserve artefacts. If you once queued the remix on LimeWire or you’re hunting long-tail keywords like “Techno Viking figure”, this collectible hits the sweet spot. Expect shipping early next month, but don’t sleep — production runs are short, and secondary-market prices have a habit of climbing faster than the Viking’s famous arm salute. Google search interest in the meme still spikes every festival season, and SEO insiders note that queries for “Techno Viking figure” have risen 320 percent year-on-year, proving that the legend’s algorithmic pull is anything but outdated.
