Category Archives: Animals

by

Hummingbird

Another derivative of the binder paper beak I mentioned in the Kiwi Bird post. This design came quickly because of the existing head model and plentiful paper for the rest of the avian form. The proportions are off but I think real life hummingbirds appear to sport similar ratios so it doesn’t look too cartoonishly unnatural.

The kiwi bird’s design wastes a lot of paper and more of it is utilized in this design to form wings and a tail. There is still a lot of wasted paper in this design but not many additional appendages to be added and because I find the existing proportions acceptable I will probably not spend more time optimizing the size of the existing feet and tail.

Folded from a single uncut sheet of square printer paper.

by

Kiwi Bird

The inspiration
The inspiration assembled

This model was inspired from that corner of binder paper in the first two pictures. The point from the corner of binder paper looked like a beak and the rest of the bird was easy to design after I had the head down.

In the future, I might attempt a design with claws but other than that, I am very pleased with the current iteration.

Folded from a single square sheet of orange printer paper.

by

Some More Gorillas

L to R: Newest, Oldest, Middle
Older design
Older design
Newest Design
Newest Design
Newest Design

For some reason, I keep on coming back to the gorillas a design topic. I think it is the inverted proportions that intrigue me; the large hands and arms and shorter legs much different than other animals.

The latter two designs were spawned from experiments in bases instead of a direct attempt to make a gorilla. They use the same design for the face which was originally based on the first model. I much prefer the current model of face to the older one but I didn’t want to unfold the old one for the picture so it stands out in that regard.

The shortest one started from the feet which were formed from the middle of the paper. This led to much excess paper but it also allowed me to get a detailed head and chest which I am happy with. I found the small size comedic but it made it difficult to photograph.

The newest model was also the result of a design experiment. I began with a fish base and attempted to make something more complex from it. It is overall my favorite although the pointy head is a bit strange.

All models were each folded from a single sheet of uncut, square printer paper.

by

Buffalo

I have wanted to make a buffalo for quite some time now and I stumbled upon this design with a random doodle I made from scratch paper.

The best part for me is that the base is not dependent of reference points and is arbitrarily chosen when beginning the construction. The idea that order can still be achieved from perceived randomness intrigues me in origami. I think the proportions are well suited for the subject but its simplistic design limits the details I could add, such as the horns which look a bit disconnected from the head.

Folded from a single square sheet of printer paper.

by

Duck

Original duck
Original duck
Original duck

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I was given a post-it note after class which I, being the impeccable scholar I am, decided to fold a unicorn with.  Upon presenting it to my classmates, several commented that it looked more like a duck and when rotated it is quite easy to see so.

I built on this idea for the rest of the day and made feet so it could stand. I like the angles of the head as it makes it look like a cartoony duck or seagull. I was also impressed with the feet which are made from the corners (typically a weak part of the paper) yet could support the weight of the rest of the model. Overall it looks much more “full” that it actually is. Just as in the unicorn that formed it, the main anatomical flaw is the lack of a tail. Even though a duck’s tail is much shorter there was no real good way to made it stick out from the back so I left it as is.

One thing I enjoy about simple models is that they can easily manipulated to form new models. I did this quite often when I was younger to suit the tastes I had at the time, often transforming ordinary models into warriors so they could do battle (I based their significance based on the number of steps they took so the more complex ones were kings and generals while simple ones were merely peasants). However performing a simple turn to arrive at a new model is impossible with more complex models which feature toes and horns and hands and other intended appendages. This is one reason it is nice to take a break from such models and enjoy the simplicity and joy “easy” models can bring. Simpler models are also great for a limited time budget as the accomplishment of designing a new model can still be experienced without spending months on a single design.

Folded originally from a square, uncut sticky note and later with uncut, squares of printer paper.

by

Unicorn

I made this model over the summer and I guess I didn’t get a chance to post it despite how proud of it I was. I fabricated the entire model in my head and it worked perfectly the first time I tried to fold it. It’s only merit is being extraordinarily easy to fold as there is almost no definition of the body and no tail at all. It looks more like a giraffe but it has a horn so it is obviously a unicorn. The horn could easily be modified to be ears or ossicones (those horn like appendages on their heads) but I think the simplicity of the model is better than a more complex graft with a very simple body.

Folded from a single sheet of uncut, square printer paper.

by

Hearthstone Hex Frog

Hex, in Hearthstone, is a spell for the shaman class which transforms a minion into a 0/1 frog with taunt for 4 mana. It is one of the best removal spells as it permanently changes a potentially powerful minion into an anon-threatening amphibian.

I wanted to make this model for a while as there are not very many easy subjects to capture in Hearthstone and a frog seemed pretty basic. This differs from most other origami frogs as it sits upright just as it is portrayed in the card art.

The design revolves around the eyes. Sometimes when I design models sometimes there is one specific aspect I want to capture and then I design the rest of the model around it with the remaining paper and in this case it was the surprised eyes. If I were to change anything I would try to make the legs slightly longer but overall I am happy with how it turned out.

Finally I couldn’t find the usual camera I use so I tried a different camera and different techniques so hopefully the pictures look slightly better.

Folded from a single sheet of square, uncut printer paper.

 

by

Gorilla (Harambe)

I managed to design and fold this in one school day. This is the second iteration of the model as the first got crumpled in my pocket while I was walking around school. Luckily this one survived the rest of the school day so I could post it.

I think I am most proud of the face. I don’t usually include details in the same caliber as a face but I thought it turned out alright and was a good challenge as a designer. The larger forehead makes it look younger and the eyes look slightly malignant; perhaps it is a wild gorilla rather than one in a zoo.

This model was inspired by Harambe, the gorilla which was shot and killed in the Cincinnati zoo. I am ashamed to say it was more inspired by the memes than the gorilla itself but I am trying to create more natural animals and a gorilla seemed appropriate given recent events. Consider it a tribute of sorts.

Folded from a single sheet of square, uncut printer paper.