Ready to bring the ocean’s most iconic predator to life with paper? This Origami Orca, designed by John Montroll, with realistic features, like its white belly, tall dorsal fin, and flukes.
For the best result, I highly recommend using dual-color paper, black on one side, white on the other, as this will naturally mirror the orca’s original coloring. While the model involves multiple steps, don’t be intimidated; each fold builds clearly on the last.
Here is a friendly note: Take your time with the initial creases; they are the base for all the next steps.
If you are new to origami, start here from our beginner guide to know the basics and how to read the step-by-step instructions.
- Folding time: 50 minutes
- Paper: 15×15 cm
- Total steps: 32
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Designer: John Montroll
Material
With a 15 × 15 cm square sheet of origami paper, you can make an orca model about 9.5 cm long.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1
Place the paper in a diamond shape with the white side (for the belly) face up. Fold the bottom corner to the top. Then fold the right corner to the left, crease, and unfold.
Step 2
Fold the right corner to the midpoint of the bottom edge. Crease lightly only at the very edge to mark the midpoint of the bottom edge’s right half. Unfold.
Fold the right corner to the point you just marked, leave a crease, and unfold it.
Step 3
Fold the left corner to the intersection of the last crease and the bottom edge, then turn the paper over from left to right.
Fold the left corner to the right along the vertical crease, then fold it back to the left to meet the left corner.
Step 4
Fold the top layer back to the right. Flip the paper from left to right, and fold the right corner to the left corner.
Step 5
Fold the bottom right corner along the black dashed line, making the new, folded bottom edge align with the vertical crease. Crease sharply and then unfold. This creates a new crease. (pictures 1-2)
Turn the paper over from left to right, take this crease you just made, and fold it to align with the vertical crease. Crease well and unfold. (pictures 3-5)
Step 6
Fold down the top corner, making the right edge of the folded new layer align with the existing vertical crease, and unfold it. (pictures 1-2)
Turn over the model from left to right, take the mountain crease you just made, and fold it to align with the existing vertical crease, and unfold it. (pictures 3-5)
Step 7
Completely unfold the paper, and make the white side face down.
Step 8
Make mountain fold along these red dash-dot-dot lines, and valley fold along the black dashed lines. Then, take the left and right mountain creases, push them toward the center. This will cause the paper to collapse, automatically forming a sunken area in the middle. Finally, turn the paper over.
Tip: This collapse may take time and requires patience. To make it easier and quicker, it is necessary to pre-crease all the mountain and valley folds sharply. You can also try pushing the top and bottom mountain creases toward the center. Remember to constantly straighten and adjust the creases as you push to form the sunken shape.
Step 9
Bring the top and bottom layers together, which will reveal two new, smaller flaps. Fold both flaps to the right side. Then rotate the model 90 degrees from back to front so it lies flat.
Step 10
In Step 9, when we close the model, this center triangular section may randomly fold to the left or right side. Now, we need to reopen it and ensure that the section is folded to the right side. Then, close it again and lay it flat.
Step 11
Fold the left half of the top edge to align with the vertical crease. Crease, and unfold. (pictures 1-2)
Mountain fold the crease you just made on the top layer, take and fold it toward the right along the same vertical crease. Flatten the fold. (pictures 3-5)
Step 12
Fold the bottom corner of the top layer to meet the top left corner. Fold the top layer on the right to the left side along the vertical crease, following the next smaller layer to the left side too. (pictures 1-3)
Turn the model over from left to right. (picture 4)
Step 13
Fold the top small layer on the left to the right along the vertical crease (picture 1)
Open the model, and push the center triangular section to the right side. Close it again and lay it flat. (pictures 2-5)
Step 14
Fold the top edge to align with the vertical crease, crease well, and unfold. (pictures 1-2)
Mountain fold the crease you just made on the top layer, take and fold it toward the right along the same vertical crease. Flatten the fold. (pictures 3-5)
Step 15
Fold the bottom left and bottom right edges to align with the center vertical crease, crease well, and unfold them.
Step 16
Mountain fold the creases you made in the previous step on the top layer. (picture 1)
Open the pocket based on the existing creases. Then lift the top layer, use your hands to push the left and right corners toward the center. (pictures 2-3)
Flatten the pocket, getting a triangle. Fold it down, then up. (pictures 4-5)
Step 17
Fold the top corner downward to meet the center intersection point. Leave a crease, and unfold. (pictures 1-2)
Fold the top corner down again, making the crease you just made align with the horizontal crease. (picture 3)
Step 18
Fold the left and right edges of the layer beneath the top triangle upward along the left and right edges of the triangle itself. Crease well, then unfold. Finally, fold the triangle upward.
Step 19
Mountain fold the crease indicated by the red dash-dot-dot line. Based on the two valley creases you made in the previous step, open the pocket from the center by lifting the layers. (pictures 1-2)
Fold down the top corner to form a diamond shape. (picture 2)
Fold the top left and top right edges inward along the black dashed lines, then fold the right layer to the left. (pictures 3-4)
Finally, rotate the model 90 degrees clockwise.
Step 20
Fold the left section of the top layer’s bottom edge upward along the black dashed line. (picture 1)
Flip the model over left-to-right and repeat the fold on this side, aligning the two new flaps. (pictures 2-3)
Step 21
Fold the bottom left edge of the top one upward to align with the horizontal crease. Crease only the left-hand section, end at the center vertical crease, and unfold it. (pictures 1-2)
Next, fold the bottom right edge (top one) to align with the horizontal crease. Crease only the right-hand section, end at the center vertical crease too, and unfold it. (pictures 3-4)
Step 22
Using the creases you just made, bring up the bottom left and bottom right edges to form a small flap. (rabbit ear fold) Then, fold this flap to the right side. Finally, turn the model over from left to right.
Step 23
Perform another rabbit ear fold as Step 21, but this time, fold the resulting small flap to the left side.
Step 24
View the model from the right side. With one hand, hold the top part of the model to keep it in place. With your other hand, grasp the bottom layer of the mouth and gently pull it downward to separate and open the mouth.
Step 25
Rotate the model 90 degrees so the bottom side faces up. Gently open the two layers. Make a small valley fold on the tip and tuck it inside between these layers. Close the layers, then rotate the model back and lay it flat.
Step 26
Fold the top edge of the white belly section downward along the dashed line. This action will also pull and fold the fin to the right side. (pictures 1-2)
Make a pleat fold on the tip of this fin. (picture 3)
Finally, turn the model over from left to right. (picture 4)
Step 27
Make the same fold on this side.
Step 28
Work on the head.
1. Fold the top corner of the top sheet down, making the top edge align with the horizontal crease. (picture 1)
2. Unfold the small triangle and fold up the resulting bottom corner of this layer upward along the black dashed line, forming a tiny triangle.(pictures 2-3)
3. Fold the right edge of this tiny triangle to align with its bottom edge, unfold for 90 degrees to make the resulting tiny flap stand upright. (pictures 3-5)
4. Open and squash this tiny to form the eye of the orca. Finally, tuck the whole layer under the yellow belly layer. (pictures 6-7)
Step 29
Flip the model over from left to right, then shape the eye and head on this side as the same technique of the other side in the previous step.
Step 30
Tuck the whole layer under the yellow belly layer.
Step 31
Rotate the model 90 degrees forward to make its back face up. Open the model. Take the left corner of the inner layer and make an inside reverse fold along the indicated creases. (pictures 1-2)
Close the model. Then, rotate it 90 degrees back to its original position and lay it flat. (pictures 3-4)
Step 32
Fold the fin on this side downward. Rotate the model 90 degrees backward and open it.
Fold the top and bottom corners of the belly inward a little. This makes the belly smooth and flat.
Close it and lay it flat. Your orca is now complete.
Step 33
How about using black-and-white paper to make your origami orca strikingly lifelike?
What’s Next
You’ve just brought a majestic origami orca to life from a simple square of paper. I hope you enjoyed the process. If you loved folding this sea creature, let’s dive deeper. I also have guides for creating other origami fish, from graceful dolphins to tropical angelfish. Happy folding!
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