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Flat Origami Octopus

A broad head above a flared, uncut arm panel. Follow the complete folding sequence, then add the optional drawn details for a flat ocean scene.

Preparation + 11 numbered steps

Materials

6-inch square · 6 × 6 inches

One 6 × 6-inch square (15.24 × 15.24 cm) of thin origami paper. Ruler and pencil for measured folds; optional pen for the face. No scissors or glue.

Start the interactive guide ↓
Read all illustrated steps ↓Download PDF ↓ · one-page illustrated guide
Flat Origami Octopus: A broad head above a flared, uncut arm panel
A broad head above a flared, uncut arm panel

Follow along

Preparation

The interactive guide needs JavaScript. Read every illustrated step below.

Camera only; does not change the fold.
Help · controls & diagram

Play or drag the progress slider to watch a fold from 0% to 100%. Use the view buttons or drag the diagram to look from another angle.

Blue and gold track the original left and right halves of the sheet, not literal paper colors. Darker shades show the reverse. Orange marks moving paper and its hinge.

With the diagram focused: Space plays or pauses, ←/→ change steps, and Home resets.

Every step, at a glance

Compare your paper with each diagram after completing the action. Blue and gold track the original left and right halves of the sheet, not literal paper colors. Darker shades show the reverse. Orange marks moving paper and its hinge.

  1. 0. Prepare the square
  2. 1. Crease across the center
  3. 2. Open horizontally
  4. 3. Crease down the center
  5. 4. Open vertically
  6. 5. Fold the right gate
  7. 6. Fold the left gate
  8. 7. Flare the right lower flap
  9. 8. Flare the left lower flap
  10. 9. Turn to the plain face
  11. 10. Shorten the head
  12. 11. Draw the arms and face
  1. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldPrepare the square

    PREPARATION · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Prepare the square

    Place the square with level edges and the intended octopus color down.

    Layers: One square, without cuts.

    Check: The top and bottom edges are horizontal.

    Explore this step ↑
  2. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldCrease across the center

    STEP 1 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Crease across the center

    Bring the bottom edge to the top edge and press.

    Layers: Move the lower half.

    Check: The edges meet.

    Explore this step ↑
  3. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen horizontally

    STEP 2 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Open horizontally

    Unfold the lower half fully.

    Layers: Open the same half.

    Check: A horizontal center crease remains.

    Explore this step ↑
  4. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldCrease down the center

    STEP 3 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Crease down the center

    Bring the right edge to the left edge.

    Layers: Move the right half.

    Check: The side edges meet.

    Explore this step ↑
  5. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen vertically

    STEP 4 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Open vertically

    Return the right half to the table.

    Layers: Open the same half.

    Check: Both center creases are visible.

    Explore this step ↑
  6. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFold the right gate

    STEP 5 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Fold the right gate

    Bring the right edge to the vertical center crease.

    Layers: Fold the outer right quarter.

    Check: The edge lies on the center.

    Explore this step ↑
  7. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFold the left gate

    STEP 6 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Fold the left gate

    Bring the left edge to the same center crease.

    Layers: Fold the outer left quarter.

    Check: The two gate edges meet without overlapping.

    Explore this step ↑
  8. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFlare the right lower flap

    STEP 7 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Flare the right lower flap

    Fold the lower end of the right gate outward. Use the sloping line joining the center crossing to the lower right corner of the narrow rectangle.

    Layers: Move only the right gate flap, leaving the flat back panel still.

    Check: A pointed side flap extends to the right.

    Explore this step ↑
  9. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFlare the left lower flap

    STEP 8 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Flare the left lower flap

    Repeat along the line from the center crossing to the lower left corner of the narrow rectangle.

    Layers: Move only the left gate flap.

    Check: The lower panel flares equally on both sides.

    Explore this step ↑
  10. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldTurn to the plain face

    STEP 9 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Turn to the plain face

    Turn the entire model over from side to side. Keep the flared part at the bottom.

    Layers: Carry all layers together.

    Check: The broad plain face is uppermost.

    Explore this step ↑
  11. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldShorten the head

    STEP 10 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Shorten the head

    Mark a horizontal line 0.9 inch above the original center. Fold the top down on that line.

    Layers: Move every layer above the mark.

    Check: A rectangular head sits above the flared lower panel.

    Explore this step ↑
  12. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldDraw the arms and face

    STEP 11 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Draw the arms and face

    Draw two eyes and a round mouth on the upper rectangle. On the lower panel, draw seven lines upward from its bottom edge to suggest eight arms. Do not cut the lines.

    Layers: The lower panel remains one continuous piece of paper.

    Check: The octopus is a flat icon with drawn arm divisions, not eight separate paper limbs.

    Explore this step ↑
Sources & notes

Origami Club; diagram copyright Fumiaki Shingu, Origami Club: Flat Origami Octopus (undated web diagram).

Complete reference diagram ↗

The reference diagram credits Fumiaki Shingu. That credit does not establish a design-reuse license or traditional attribution. Source diagrams and text remain separately protected. These English instructions, material geometry, illustrations and PDF are original; no reference assets or code are included.

Adaptation: Follows the six-panel easy Octopus diagram, separating the paired gate and outward folds. The upper shortening hinge is fixed at 0.9 inch above the center. The source draws arm divisions on an uncut lower panel: this tutorial explicitly retains that distinction and does not claim eight separate folded arms.

Original instructions and diagrams, made with AI assistance. About & reuse

Accuracy notes

Real-paper follow-along and paper weight have not been tested. Diagrams illustrate the sequence, not paper thickness, contact, collisions or exact layer visibility.