50+ Origami Animals - The Most Popular Paper Creatures (2025)

Origami animals have been the most famous craft creatures in origami. Some of them are super easy with less than 20 steps while advanced models can creates more details about the body and wings.

We include the basic origami animal faces which are super kid friendly, common animals, dogs and act and awesome ancient animals like some reptile animals and dinosaur. No matter whether you are a beginner or skilled in origami, some of the best origami animal ideas are on this page. What’s better, we provide detailed step by step origami tutorials to make sure you can get the best results.

Our Most Popular Origami Animals Tutorials

Those are our editor’s pick of most popular origami animals tutorials.

Origami Cute Cat

15 Minutes

Origami Hippo

20 Minutes

Origami Shark

20 Minutes

Origami Turtle

15 Minutes

Origami Land Animals

We include all of the animals who living on the land in our section of origami land animals – you can make origami grassland animals like the lion, giraffe and elephant, hippo and some special animals – the white and black panda, dancing monkeys and the cute cat.

You can also find animals in our daily life- dogs, cats, rabbits and even mouse. Pick your favorite origami animal model and start folding.

Origami Chicken

10 Minutes

Origami Squirrel

15 Minutes

Origami Cute Cat

15 Minutes

Origami Sheep

15 Minutes

Origami Camel

10 Minutes

Origami Cow

15 Minutes

Origami Rhinoceros

15 Minutes

Origami Monkey

20 Minutes

Origami Giraffe

20 Minutes

Origami Bull

10 Minutes

Origami Lion

30 Minutes

Origami Pig

15 Minutes

Origami Hippo

20 Minutes

Origami Panda

20 Minutes

Origami Fox

20 Minutes

Origami Dog

20 Minutes

Origami Rabbit

15 Minutes

Origami Bear

10 Minutes

Origami Fox

5 Minutes

Origami Puppy

5 Minutes

Origami Animal Face

The Origami animal face is the easiest starting point for origami beginners. Most of the animal faces require less than 20 steps. If you just need flat origami animals for a greeting card or other craft project, those origami animal faces can be super quick to finish.

Something more interesting is that you can draw some cute eyes and mouthes to show different emotions or expression even with the same animal face. For example, a happy dog face or a down one.

Origami Frog Face

10 Minutes

Origami Pig Face

5 Minutes

Origami Elephant Face

5 Minutes

Origami Fox Face

5 Minutes

Origami Cow Face

5 Minutes

Origami Monkey Face

5 Minutes

Origami Panda Face

5 Minutes

Origami Bear Face

5 Minutes

Origami Dog Face

6 Minutes

Origami Rabbit Face

5 Minutes

Origami Cat Face

5 Minutes

Origami Fish and Sea Creatures

Fish and sea creatures are always cute in appearance. We have simple fish that require less than 10 minutes, as well as middle-level origami sharks, origami whales, and, of course, origami sea turtles. You can use those sea animals to make a lovely sea themed origami mobile.

Origami Octopus

15 Minutes

Origami Dolphin

15 Minutes

Origami Cute Whale

20 Minutes

Origami Shark

20 Minutes

Origami Whale

20 Minutes

Origami Koi Fish

20 Minutes

Origami Tropical Fish

5 Minutes

Origami Fish

10 Minutes

Origami Sea Turtle

20 Minutes

Origami Shark

8 Minutes

Origami Seahorse

10 Minutes

Origami Crab

5 Minutes

Origami Birds

Birds are the most popular group in the world of origami. In this group, there are many classic models including the classic crane and dove. You can start with the basic crane or chick and then move on to more complex ones like the Origami Flamingo and eagle.
We included a long list of origami birds in this collection of origami animal idea collection because they are so vivid and creative in looking.

Origami Penguin

15 Minutes

Origami Seagull

20 Minutes

Origami Bird

10 Minutes

Origami Pigeon

10 Minutes

Origami Phoenix

20 Minutes

Origami Goose

20 Minutes

Origami Turkey

20 Minutes

Origami Owl

10 Minutes

Origami Hummingbird

20 Minutes

Origami Parrot

20 Minutes

Origami Flapping Bird

10 Minutes

Origami Peacock

15 Minutes

Origami Eagle

30 Minutes

Origami Swan

20 Minutes

Origami Flamingo

20 Minutes

Origami Crow

8 Minutes

Origami Duck

5 Minutes

Origami Crane

15 Minutes

Origami Penguin

5 Minutes

Origami Dove

10 Minutes

Origami 3D Penguin

5 Minutes

Origami Insects

Origami insects are a captivating branch of origami. From butterflies and dragonflies to beetles and spiders, origami insects showcase the beauty and diversity of the insect world through creative folds and designs.

Patterned papers can improve the appearance of insects greatly, so be creative and set your imagination free when folding insects with paper.

Origami Butterfly

20 Minutes

Origami Ladybird

5 Minutes

Origami Butterfly

10 Minutes

Origami Bee

5 Minutes

Origami Cicada

10 Minutes

50+ Origami Animals - The Most Popular Paper Creatures (75)

Origami Dinosaur

Dinosaurs can be the best object for boys. The following are our origami dinosaurs, with an easier version and a more difficult version.

Origami Dinosaur

15 Minutes

Origami Dinosaure

15 minutes

Reptile Animals

Origami Reptile Animals, from the most classic jumping frogs to lovely turtles.

Origami Crocodile

30 Minutes

Origami Scorpion

30 Minutes

Origami Chameleon

10 Minutes

Origami Lizard

15 Minutes

Origami Turtle

15 Minutes

Origami Sea Turtle

20 Minutes

Origami Snake

8 Minutes

Origami Frog

10 Minutes

Others Origami Animals

We have video instructions for following origami animals. Once you finished the above easier ones, try those slightly skilled models.

Check Origami Animal Tutorials by Types

Origami Birds

Origami Reptiles

Land Animals

Origami Sea Creatures

Origami Animal Faces

Origami Insects

Papers for origami animals

We use educational paper to demonstrate most of our step-by-step instructions for origami animals so we can show the detailed front and back sides and add the arrows and lines on those pictures.

However, selecting the appropriate paper can make your origami animal pop out and become unique. Always try different papers to find the best result. You can use printed paper or even washi paper for artistic projects.

Let’s take this easy butterfly for example. All of those three collection of butterflies are made with the same butterfly model but they looks super different because of the paper used.

  1. The left group is made with gradient Sydney paper. Those paper are super thin and thus can make the butterfly as light and beautiful.
  2. The middle one is regular education origami paper, but we draw some lovely lines and spots to imitate the looking of natural butterfly.
  3. The right group is made with flower patterned origami paper. This will give the butterfly unique appearance because of the pattern.

So play with your papers and other craft tools like pens to make your origami animals outstanding and different..

50+ Origami Animals - The Most Popular Paper Creatures (94)
50+ Origami Animals - The Most Popular Paper Creatures (95)
50+ Origami Animals - The Most Popular Paper Creatures (96)

Origami Animal Projects Ideas

Once you’ve mastered folding those origami animals, don’t throw them out. You can use them on many projects.

Make a wall art

Grouping several folded animals creates an attractive collage. For example, match the sea creatures and make an ocean-themed wall art. For example, a beautiful wall art with a collection of cranes.

50+ Origami Animals - The Most Popular Paper Creatures (97)

Baby Mobile

Folded animals are the best elements for baby mobiles since they are quite vibrant in color.

Afterthoughts

Here, we make a showcase of different origami animal ideas and discuss further ideas after folding them. We love to see your creations, either the paper choosing or the way of put them together—happy folding with your cute animals.

50+ Origami Animals - The Most Popular Paper Creatures (2025)
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