To make this easy origami giraffe, you need one square of origami paper (or plain paper cut into a square) and scissors, then follow the folds in the five-minute video below. It is a simple project for kids, each giraffe takes just a few minutes, and the finished giraffe stands on its own legs.
Last updated: October 18, 2026. Facts checked against the sources listed at the end of this article.
Our zoo sort of rocks. It’s beautiful and lovely, and the animals seem like they’re in relatively large-enough habitats. My love for zoos far outweighs my sadness for the animals being removed from their natural habitats.
I feel like since we are obviously the greatest threat to animals, the more we can learn about, and understand animals, the greater the chance we will be moved to help the animals that are living out in the wild.
Zoos help people feel compassion and excitement and love for these animals, therefore I am pro-zoo.
Monologue aside, we visited our zoo the other day and I was giddy when I saw the giraffes- they are up there in my top 5 favorite animals, and they were all cute and frolicking on the morning we visited.
Let’s get on with the project! I found this in the book, Easy Origami, by Fumiaki Shingu.
Origami Giraffe
Materials:
- Origami paper (or plain paper that is cut into a square)
- Scissors
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Paper | One square of origami paper, or plain paper cut into a square |
| Tools | Scissors |
| Instructions | The video below (about 5 minutes) |
| Time per giraffe | A few minutes |
| Level | Easy, made for folding with kids |
| Model from | Easy Origami by Fumiaki Shingu |
Instructions:
Well, here’s a video to watch. It’s really much easier to see how to make these while watching a video…
Do you want to see my problem giraffe? This was the 3rd one I made, and I’m not really sure what happened here, poor guy:
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Here’s a great site with diagrams and video tutorials for folding every letter of the alphabet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you make an origami giraffe?
Fold one square of origami paper by following the video on this page, and keep scissors handy, since the materials list calls for them. The video runs about five minutes, and its description says the project only takes a few minutes, so it is easy to make a whole herd in different patterned papers.
Can you make an origami giraffe without scissors?
Yes. Origami.me has a scissor-free giraffe designed by Caleb Witte, rated Easy (Beginner Level 5), that takes about 10 minutes to fold from one square. Its 25 diagrammed steps use outside reverse folds for the neck and head and a crimp for the tail, so it makes a good written alternative to the video.
What paper is best for an origami giraffe?
Use square origami paper; the giraffes in this post are folded from patterned origami sheets. Plain paper cut into a square also works, as the materials list says. For its own giraffe, Origami.me suggests 6 x 6 inch (15 x 15 cm) kami origami paper or Tant paper.
How do you do animal origami?
Start from a simple base, then shape the animal with reverse folds. The kite base, which Origami Resource Center calls one of the easiest bases, is a square folded in half along the diagonal and unfolded, with both lower edges folded to meet the center crease. Outside reverse folds are commonly used to form heads and feet.
What are the basic folds of origami?
The two basic folds are the valley fold and the mountain fold, which bend the paper in opposite directions. Origami Resource Center calls them the “bread-and-butter of origami,” and every model uses at least one. Compound folds, such as the outside reverse fold, start from a valley fold that is unfolded, then the layers are opened so the paper folds back along that crease.
This post is a little link-heavy, but I found SO MANY great origami books and papers, Click on the image to find the item on Amazon (affiliate links):
Have fun, and show me your origami creations on my Facebook Page!
Sources
- This post’s video on YouTube: running time 5:21; description says the giraffe only takes a few minutes. Read October 18, 2026.
- Origami.me, How to Fold an Origami Giraffe: Caleb Witte design, no scissors, Easy (Beginner Level 5), about 10 minutes, 6 x 6 inch paper, 25 steps. Read October 18, 2026.
- Origami Resource Center: Kite Base, Valley Fold and Outside Reverse Fold: how each is folded and what it is used for. Read October 18, 2026.
- Open Library: Easy Origami by Fumiaki Shingu (Mud Puddle Books, 2007), for the author’s name. Read October 18, 2026.
Comments
0 comments
The Oh My Back giraffe is my favorite!
My favorite, too- it cracked me up when I made it, and now I want to make a whole bunch of slightly distorted origami animals….
Origami has always fascinated me. I am really looking forward to trying out a giraffe. My daughter loves giraffes. I have a feeling she will demanding an entire herd before long!
They get more fun to make as you make a bunch of them- you get into sort of an origami groove and challenge yourself to remember the steps. Have fun with them!
Origami is so much fun and it reminds me of my brother’s wedding – he folded 1,000 paper swans to decorate the pergola that covered him and his wife as they said their vows.
Stunning!
Your giraffes are cute – have you thought of creating your own origami zoo?
1,000 swans must have been beautiful! I love the idea of the zoo- gotta go look up some more animals now.
I used to be able to fold a bird that flapped its wings when you pulled on its tail – wish I could remember how to do that one.
I’ve seen those! That sounds complicated, though. I was pretty excited when I mastered the giraffe- I found this link in case you want to revisit your past: http://www.origami-fun.com/origami-flapping-bird.html
Oh, yes! That’s the one! Thank you for finding that 🙂
These are rad. I used to make little paper swans out if bus tickets and leave them on the bus for people to find. (Yeah, I’m pretty amazing like that!). I love the giraffe with the sore back, although I kind of saw it in a “salt n’ peppa”, “oh no you didn’t” click click, kinda way. Does that even make sense? What does that say about me? Too much tv. Thanks for the post. I’d totally forgotten about origami.
Aren’t they rad?! I love the idea of leaving art in public for people to find- it’s such a fun little gift for unsuspecting people. Especially in the middle of a busy commute… ANd I’m loving your interpretation of the bad-back-giraffe. Makes it much more saucy.
Great video! Videos for origami are so helpful!!! Now get busy on the rest of the animals. I’m envisioning a whole origami zoo!
I’m thinking some monkeys would be good. Off to Google-land.
i like the giraffe..