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 that boys will want to make! (31–40)
a shootable origami gun
Many origami weapons focus on appearance, so their movement can feel a bit lacking.
This is an origami gun that’s satisfying even in its mechanical aspects, featuring a mechanism that actually fires a projectile.
You make the barrel piece for loading the bullet and the trigger piece separately, then assemble them together with the handle piece to complete the whole structure.
It’s important to secure everything firmly so it won’t break when you pull the trigger or fire a shot.
Finally, attach a rubber band, place a straw or a thin paper bullet in the barrel, and pull the trigger to launch the projectile.
Eevee
Pocket Monsters, commonly known as Pokémon, has a charm that captivates both children and adults.
Many of you were probably hooked on Pokémon GO, the game linked to the real world! Let’s try making Eevee, one of Pokémon’s most popular characters, with origami.
You can make it with a single sheet of paper, and the steps are simple, so it comes together in no time! The key feature is Eevee’s long, cute ears.
Finish it off by drawing an adorable face.
Why not try this origami for a bit of fun or as a craft to do with kids?
Baby dragon
Let’s make a small baby dragon with outstretched wings using a single sheet of origami! Fold the paper into a triangle, then open the pocket and fold it into a square.
Proceed as you would when folding a crane, and when you’ve folded one side into a diamond shape, leave the other side as is.
From there, as you continue folding, create a relatively large head, a plump body, wings that are large in proportion to the body, and short legs.
Finally, spread the accordion-folded wings to a suitable width, and you’ll have a tiny dragon that looks as if it’s practicing for takeoff.
Propeller
Do you remember the first piece of origami you ever folded? The memory might be a bit fuzzy, but I think everyone has folded a paper airplane at least once.
Watching a plane you made fly through the air—it was exciting, even moving, wasn’t it? So let me introduce an origami model that’s one step up from the paper airplane: the “propeller,” which some people call a “paper copter.” Once you make it, be sure to play with it together with friends.
In addition to the propeller shown in this video, there are various kinds of propellers and paper copters—like the spinning bamboo-copter type and a box-shaped type that spins a lot.
Have fun and give them all a try!
Mini Shoot Game
It’s a toy where you launch a ball from the lifted edge and aim to get it into the hole at the other end.
The target and the launching mechanism are all built into a single sheet of origami, which gives it a cohesive feel.
It’s important to fold carefully with the creases in mind; the overlapping folds create a spring-like lifted shape and a target that stays stable even when the ball goes in.
Since it’s made from a single sheet of origami, making major modifications is tricky, but you can change the feel by adjusting the strength of the mechanism or the angle of the target—so it’s worth experimenting.
Ideas for origami boys will want to make! (41–50)
A child wearing a helmet
Let me introduce a child wearing a kabuto (samurai helmet), perfect for the Tango no Sekku (Boys’ Festival).
You will need one sheet of origami paper for the helmet, one for the crest (kuwagata), eye stickers, cheek stickers, a pen, and glue.
If you don’t have stickers, you can draw them with a pen instead.
First, fold the helmet by matching the corners along the diagonal to make a crease, then mark the center point.
Fold along the mark, and use that as a guide for the next folds—it makes the process easier.
The kuwagata involves some small, detailed folds, but if you show an example, your child may be able to make it well.
Try using your favorite colors and drawing different faces to have fun with it.
pickaxe
A pickaxe is a tool used to break rocks or dig through soil, and it also strongly evokes the image of carving out a path.
Let’s make a pickaxe that conveys that sense of determination using a single sheet of origami.
The shape is similar to the pickaxe that appears in Minecraft: fold the whole piece into a long, slender form, then shape the ends so they spread out to the left and right.
The key is to keep symmetry in mind while folding and decide on a thickness that makes it feel powerful.
It’s also a good idea to layer a different color afterward to make the handle stand out.