Most Popular Origami Animals
These are the origami animals people come back to again and again. They are easy to fold, familiar, and a great place to start if you are new to origami.
Latest Origami Animals
Origami Mammals
Origami Batby Sébastien Limet
Origami Squirrelby Sébastien Limet
Origami Giraffeby Caleb Witte
Origami Lucky Catby Oriol Esteve
Origami Catby Nicolas Terry
Origami HorseTraditional design
Origami Pigby Adriano Mariani
Origami Lionby Sébastien Limet
Origami Elephantby Kunihiko Kasahara
Origami SealTraditional design
Origami Cat FaceTraditional design
Origami Camelby Sébastien Limet
Origami Kittenby Francesco Mancini
Origami Tigerby Sébastien Limet
Origami Pandaby Adriano Mariani
Origami Balloon RabbitTraditional design
Origami Rhinocerosby Caleb Witte
Origami Mouseby Sébastien Limet
Origami Dogby Kunihiko Kasahara
Origami Elephant Headby Francesco Mancini
🎓 Folding with a class? Most of our models are available as printable PDFs licensed for classroom and group use.
See the Origami Library for Educators →
Origami Birds
Origami Sitting CraneTraditional design
Origami BirdTraditional design
Origami Celebration CraneTraditional design
Origami Owlby Isao Honda
Origami Doveby Alice Gray
Origami Hummingbirdby Cekouat León
Origami PenguinTraditional design
Origami ChickenTraditional design
Origami CrowTraditional design
Origami SwallowTraditional design
Origami PhoenixTraditional design
Origami DuckTraditional design
Origami Sparrowby Simon Andersen
Origami Eagleby Nicolas Terry
Origami PigeonTraditional design
Origami Chickby Simon Andersen
Origami ParrotTraditional design
Origami Fish & Sea Creatures
Origami Koiby Riccardo Foschi
Origami Manta Rayby Nick Robinson
Origami Sharkby Nick Robinson
Origami CrabTraditional design
Origami DolphinTraditional design
Origami WhaleTraditional design
Origami Angelfishby Utako Okada
Origami Sea TurtleTraditional design
Origami GoldfishTraditional design
Origami Squidby Caleb Witte
Origami FishTraditional design
Origami Insects & Small Creatures
Prefer learning by video?
Slow down and enjoy an origami break!
Learn origami with easy, clear, step-by-step tutorials designed to make paper folding fun and accessible.
Join us for weekly origami videos with the talented Sébastien Limet and Jimena Candia.
Dinosaurs, Reptiles & Other Origami Animals
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Before you fold
Tips for Origami Animals
Pick your paper
Most animals here fold from a single 6 x 6 in (15 x 15 cm) square. Paper that is white on the back does some of the work for you: the white side becomes the Panda’s face and the Penguin’s belly. For the Fox, the Frog and the Goldfish, a sheet that is the same color on both sides keeps the model clean.
Make them move
The Jumping Frog jumps when you press down on its back and let go, and the Flapping Bird flaps its wings when you pull its tail. Fold a few frogs from different sizes of paper and race them across the table.
Fold with kids
The Swan, the Fox and the Cicada are the quickest starts: a handful of folds each and no tricky moves. The Cat Face and the Jumping Frog come next, and the Crane is the classic to work up to once those feel comfortable.
Questions
Origami Animals FAQ
New to origami?
If this is your very first time folding, start with our Beginner’s Guide to Origami. It introduces the basic folds, symbols, and techniques you’ll see in our tutorials. Once you’re familiar with those, you’ll find every model on this page much easier to follow. To explore further, browse every tutorial with the filters in our Origami Index.
What Is the Easiest Origami Animal to Make?
The easiest models are those that use only simple folds without tricky reverse or squash folds. Great starting points include the traditional origami swan, cicada, and fox. They’re quick to fold, easy to remember, and a perfect introduction to origami animals.
What Is the Most Popular Origami Animal?
There is no single right answer, but after folding every origami animal on this page, a few models have really stood out for us. The Cat by Nicolas Terry, the Squirrel by Sébastien Limet, the Maneki Neko by Oriol Esteve and the Giraffe by Caleb Witte are some of our favorites, and also among the most popular with folders.
What Paper Should I Use to Make Origami Animals?
Standard origami paper, called Kami, works very well for the majority of beginner and easy models. It is thin, folds cleanly, and is easy to handle, even when a model has several layers. Tant paper is a good alternative if you are looking for a different look and feel. It has color on both sides, a matte, non-glossy surface, and a subtle texture. Many folders like Tant for animal models because it feels more natural in the hand and works well for gentle shaping. In short, kami is ideal for learning and everyday folding, while Tant is a nice option when you care more about color, texture, and a softer finish. For very complex origami animals, folders often use thinner specialty papers, but those are not necessary for the models featured on this page.
What Is the Hardest Origami Animal to Fold?
Some origami animal models are incredibly challenging and usually take years of folding experience to tackle. One of the most famous examples is Ryujin 3.5 by Satoshi Kamiya, which many folders consider one of the hardest origami models ever made. Shuki Kato is also well known for designing extremely complex animal models. In general, the more realistic and detailed the animal, the harder it is to fold.
