Lovely Play & Recreation

Cool origami that boys will love and want to fold

Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!
Accompanist / Piano Instructoryuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.

When it comes to origami that boys love, cool vehicles and weapons are definitely the most popular! One of the best parts is that once you finish making them—like airplanes, trains, swords, or kunai—you can play with them right away.

In this article, we’ve gathered special ideas that will make boys who are tired of ordinary origami light up with excitement.

You’ll find lots of creations that tickle the hearts of boys who love cool rides and epic battles.

Once you’re done, have fun playing with friends or displaying them in your room!

Games, Creatures, and Characters (1–10)

Mario: Bullet Bill

[Origami] How to Fold Mario’s Enemy “Killer” (Origami Bullet Bill)

Mario: Bullet Bill

The Bullet Bill, which appears as an enemy in the Mario series, has a design like a black cannonball with eyes and arms—simple yet powerful, right? Let’s recreate this classic and popular enemy using origami.

As you shape the black origami paper into a shell-like bullet form, leave a thin strip of the white underside sticking out at the back; once the overall form is set, fold that strip into arm shapes.

Attach the eyes at the end and you’re done.

Since Bullet Bill’s design is simple, it’s also a great idea to make a separate cannon and display them as a set.

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game console

Origami / SWITCH: How to Make the Game (Kirby) origami

game console

A guaranteed hit with any game-loving boy! Here’s how to make a game console.

It’s super easy! First, prepare a sheet of black origami paper.

Make a crease down the center, then fold the top and bottom edges to the crease to form a rectangle.

Next, take blue and red origami paper cut to one-quarter size and place them on both sides of the black paper.

Fold everything in half so that the black paper is sandwiched between them.

Fold in the two outer corners, and you’re done.

You can change the screen by inserting another piece of origami paper folded to the same size into the screen area.

Try folding or drawing your favorite game characters and swapping them in to create and play different games!

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Games, Creatures, and Characters (11–20)

Pikachu

Pikachu Origami [with voice narration] How to make a simple and cute Pikachu with one sheet of origami paper | Pokémon origami for kids

Pikachu

If it’s origami featuring a favorite character, they might be more motivated to work on it.

With that in mind, I’d like to suggest Pikachu origami.

Pikachu is a popular character from Pokémon.

First, prepare a single sheet of yellow origami paper, some red stickers for the cheeks, and a pen to draw the face.

You can find suitable stickers by searching for “color labels.” Then, follow a video tutorial and give it a try.

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stag beetle

How to fold a stag beetle with origami. It’s a realistic, three-dimensional design made from a single sheet. It’s a bit difficult, but you can definitely do it! July, August, summer origami.

stag beetle

Let’s try folding a stag beetle from a single sheet of origami paper! Because you’ll be repeating a cycle of folding, making cuts, and folding again to build a three-dimensional form, the steps are a bit complex.

However, if you proceed carefully, you’ll end up with a cool stag beetle you’ll want to keep admiring.

If you observe a real stag beetle before you start, you might achieve an even more realistic finish.

It’s also great for boosting concentration, so why not take your time and give it a thorough try?

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Brachiosaurus

Easy Origami Dinosaur: How to Make a Brachiosaurus

Brachiosaurus

A must-see for boys who love dinosaurs! How about making a Brachiosaurus—one of the most popular giant herbivorous dinosaurs—out of origami? Folding dinosaurs with origami might look difficult at first, but the method introduced here uses simple folds with few steps, making it easy even for young children to try.

Once you finish folding, draw a face and patterns, or make lots of friends in different colors to expand the play and enjoy creating together with your kids.

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Monster Ball

[Official Pokémon] Korokoro Monster Balls (Rolling Poké Balls) — Pokémon Kids TV [Nonverbal]

Monster Ball

The Pokémon series is hugely popular among children, and one of its most iconic items is the Poké Ball.

Believe it or not, you can easily recreate it with origami.

Any fan would be thrilled, no doubt.

What’s more, by changing the color of the paper, you can make other kinds of balls too—purple for a Master Ball, blue for an Ultra Ball, and so on.

Doesn’t it make you want to craft a bunch and put them on display? It’s also a great recommendation for kids who don’t usually take an interest in origami.

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beetle (specifically, a rhinoceros beetle)

[Origami] Rhinoceros Beetle – origami beetle

beetle (specifically, a rhinoceros beetle)

Rhinoceros beetles are also a favorite creature among boys, aren’t they? Let’s try recreating that distinctive shape.

This design is slightly stylized with rounded features, so it feels both cool and cute.

If you’ve been looking for origami related to insects or summer, be sure to give it a try.

It also sounds fun to display it together with a stag beetle, making it look like they’re battling.

By the way, if you fold it without the horn section, you can make a female rhinoceros beetle.

If you’re interested, check out that folding method as well.

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