About Origami Diagrams

Origami Diagrams exists for one reason: a paper diagram shows you where the paper ends up, but not how it gets there. Here every step is animated, so you can watch a flap lift, turn and flatten before you fold it yourself — and replay it as many times as you need.

How the diagrams are made

Each of our 15 models is folded by a geometry engine from a flat square, one real fold at a time. Complex moves such as collapses and petal folds are built from the model’s actual crease pattern, so every layer moves the way real paper does. The instructions are written by hand, then checked by folding each model from the printed PDF.

The models themselves are traditional designs that belong to everyone — the crane, the masu box, the jumping frog. The diagrams, animations and words on this site are our own.

Free, and staying free

There is no account, app or paywall. The site is supported by a small number of ads, which is why you may see them between sections. The PDFs, the printable paper and the animations stay free.

Who we are

Origami Diagrams is made by a small team at Novpix, an independent studio that builds software, content and tools. Found a mistake in a step, or want a model added? Tell us — corrections are fixed quickly.