Origami ideas boys will want to make!
We’ll introduce origami ideas and instructions that boys will love, including playable origami toys, favorite creatures, and items perfect for pretend play.
Many of these can be made with just one sheet of origami paper, so even young children can give them a try.
Once you master the folds, try making them in different colors and patterns, or draw eyes and designs with a pen to add your own originality.
If you draw a picture on construction paper and paste your origami on top, it will add a three-dimensional feel and make a wonderful piece of art.
If you’re a boy who wants to try origami, have fun and give it a go!
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Origami Ideas Boys Will Want to Make (11–20)
A crane with legs
The classic origami crane doesn’t have legs, right? But the crane introduced here does! Its head and wings are the same as a regular origami crane, but it sprouts legs, giving it a slightly strange and amusing look.
The folding method is almost the same as the usual crane.
The steps change at the very end, when you spread the wings and form the head.
Normally, you would create a tail-like part, but here you make a cut there and turn that section into legs.
Fold both sides into an accordion about three times each, and then spread out the whole figure, including the wings, to finish.
Rubber band shuriken
Let’s make a cool shuriken that you can launch far with a rubber band! Using a single sheet of origami paper, we’ll create a shuriken shaped like a small square.
Include a spot on part of it where you can hook the rubber band.
To launch it, hook the rubber band there, extend the hand holding the rubber band forward, and release the hand holding the shuriken.
The rubber band’s force can send it flying quite far, so it’s fun to compete with friends to see who can launch theirs the farthest.
If you change the color or pattern of the origami, it’ll be easy to tell whose shuriken is whose.
poop; poop (informal)
It may have a strong image of being disliked as something dirty, but many people probably can’t help but laugh when it shows up.
This is an origami piece that uses that symbol of dirty jokes as its motif, aiming more to emphasize cuteness.
It’s simple—just keep adding stepped layers to a triangle—and lightly twisting the tip is an important point to give it the right feel.
By drawing a cute face at the end, you complete that character.
Using colorful origami paper further reduces the sense of realism and makes it more approachable as a character.
Decoy boat
A simple ship design with a sail sticking up from the base—its appearance is plain, but it’s filled with playfulness.
It’s an origami model used as a kind of magic trick: you have someone hold the tip of the ship and close their eyes; when they open them, they find they’re holding a different part, even though they never let go.
The secret is that, while their eyes are closed, you shift the creases and transform the model into a different shape.
The key to making this trick ship is to prepare fine creases ahead of time so that the transformation is possible.
Keep the balance in mind as you finish: pre-setting the transformation creases, folding softly so the movement isn’t noticed, and so on.
Magic Cube
Let me introduce a magic cube where layers of origami, flattened together, instantly transform into many boxes! Use origami in pairs to make the parts.
Fold two sheets together as a unit to form a square shape.
Prepare as many pairs as the number of boxes you want to create, then glue each unit together to finish.
By twisting and unfolding the origami with a gentle turn, lots of boxes will appear!
shark
Here’s an origami shark idea that’s perfect for boys who like strong animals.
You’ll make the shark using a single sheet of light blue origami paper.
Draw the face however you like with a pen—go for a cute, stylized look or make it realistic and scary.
As for how to play with it, a fishing game is recommended.
First, attach a paper clip to the shark.
Then use a magnet tied to the end of some twine to fish the shark up.
It would be fun to compete with friends to see who can reel theirs in the fastest.
rubber band gun
Let’s make a rubber band gun that you can also use for target practice! You’ll need one sheet of origami paper in your favorite color or pattern, one sheet of A4 paper, cellophane tape, scissors, and rubber bands.
The origami paper will be used for the gun’s handle.
The rest—the barrel and trigger—will be made from the A4 paper.
Combine each part to form the shape of the gun.
By pushing the trigger section upward, the attached rubber band releases and shoots forward.
It’s very easy to make, so try using it not only for target practice but also for rubber band shooting competitions! However, never aim or shoot at people.
How to fold a 3D MewtwoNEW!
Mewtwo, a Pokémon artificially created based on Mew’s genes.
Prepare three sheets of standard-sized purple origami and one smaller sheet of origami.
Start by folding the small sheet into a triangle to make Mewtwo’s face.
Since the final result will be three-dimensional, draw Mewtwo’s face before shaping it to add depth.
Use the standard-sized origami to make Mewtwo’s body.
Make good use of the colored and white sides as you complete Mewtwo’s body.
Finally, assemble all the parts to finish.
When assembling, using a stapler makes it easy.
How to fold Captain PikachuNEW!
Captain Pikachu, the captain of the Rising Volt Tacklers, can amazingly be made from a single sheet of origami—hat included! Prepare a yellow sheet of origami paper.
First, fold it into a triangle twice, then open it once.
From the large corner, fold halfway toward the parallel edge to make a crease.
Fold from the long edge to that crease, then fold again to the new crease.
Fold both ends toward the center, then fold down slightly at an angle to form the ears.
Turn it over and make the hat in the area between the ears.
Cut a slit between the hat and the face, and trim the corners of each to finish.
Don’t forget to draw Captain Pikachu’s gallant face and the hat’s pattern!
Charizard That Moves Its Mouth!NEW!
Charizard, the final evolution of the first-generation starter Charmander, who was a major star under Ash in the anime.
Let’s fold a Charizard face you can chomp open and close after finishing.
Prepare two sheets of orange origami paper of the same size: use one for Charizard’s mouth and the other for the face above the mouth.
When making the upper part of the face, be sure to draw Charizard’s facial features partway through the process.
Use a stapler to fasten each part.
Shape it as you go to give it a three-dimensional finish.
Once it’s done, hold both corners of the mouth and move them to make the mouth open and close with a chomp!