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Whale

How to fold an origami whale

Paper
One square sheet of paper.
Preparation
No cutting or gluing is included in these folding steps. Begin with “Crease the center and unfold”. A pen is optional if you want to add the facial details shown in the finished model.
What you will make
A whale with an upturned tail.

Make a whale by folding the side edges to the center, folding the body in half, and lifting the tail. The model turns sideways before the tail fold. Check which end is the tail after this change in orientation.

Follow the 7 steps above by scrolling. Drag the model to inspect a fold from another angle, and scroll back to review a previous step.

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Read all 7 folding steps
  1. Crease the center and unfold
  2. Fold the lower right edge to the center
  3. Fold the lower left edge to the center
  4. Fold the top corner down
  5. Fold in half along the center
  6. Turn the model sideways
  7. Fold the tail up

Tricky points and what to check

Which corner becomes the tail?

Steps to review: 5・6・7

After folding the body in half, turn it sideways. Identify the body and narrow tail in this orientation before reviewing the tail fold.

The body shape differs after folding it in half

Steps to review: 2・3・4・5

Review both lower edges folded to the center and the top corner folded down. Keep those folds in place when folding along the center.

Step 7：Fold the tail up

Three views from the same 3D folding sequence. Read from top to bottom.

Whale body turned sideways with a narrow tail extending left
Whale body turned sideways with a narrow tail extending left

After step 6. Compare with the next image to identify the part that moves.

Before：After step 6. Compare with the next image to identify the part that moves.
Left tail of the whale lifting as its tip folds upward
Left tail of the whale lifting as its tip folds upward

With the body turned sideways, fold the narrow tail upward. Watch the boundary between the body and tail.

During：With the body turned sideways, fold the narrow tail upward. Watch the boundary between the body and tail.
Completed whale with its tail raised and an eye and mouth drawn
Completed whale with its tail raised and an eye and mouth drawn

After “Fold the tail up”. Compare the corners and layers with the first image.

After：After “Fold the tail up”. Compare the corners and layers with the first image.
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SCROLL TO FOLD

Make a whale by folding the side edges to the center, folding the body in half, and lifting the tail.

Completed origami whale

Completed model · Loading 3D…

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