There’s something irresistibly charming about origami penguins, don’t you think? These paper birds capture both the whimsical appeal of folding art and the remarkable devotion found in nature.
In the wild, emperor penguin fathers are among the animal kingdom’s most dedicated parents. After the female lays her precious egg, she embarks on a grueling journey back to the ocean—sometimes traveling over 60 miles—to feed and restore her energy reserves. Meanwhile, papa penguin takes on an extraordinary responsibility: for nearly two months, he carefully balances the egg on his feet, covering it with his warm brood pouch to protect it from Antarctica’s brutal cold. During this entire period, he doesn’t eat a single meal, losing up to 45% of his body weight while ensuring his chick’s survival.
This touching dedication inspired a delightful origami creation that captures the essence of penguin parenthood. Anna Turner (South Africa) designed this adorable origami penguin family—complete with papa penguin and his tiny chick—using just one piece of paper! Anna crafted this charming duo while participating in “The Joy of Origami,” my online creativity course available through the Origamigos Membership.
The beauty of this design lies not only in its artistic appeal but also in how it tells the story of parental love through the simple medium of folded paper. Each crease represents the care and patience that both the origami artist and the penguin parent invest in their creation.
Ready to fold your own penguin family? Watch the step-by-step video tutorial below to learn how to create this heartwarming model that celebrates both the art of origami and the wonders of nature.
Tips and suggestions for making the origami penguin
- In the video, the penguin is demonstrated using Kami paper, which is a Japanese comercial paper that comes cut in squares. But any thin and crisp paper is adequate to make this model.
- The smaller you want to make this penguin the thinner the paper that should be used.
- A good paper size to learn the model would be 7×7-inch (18×18cm)
- The finished paper penguin shows two sides of the paper. It is best to use paper with the black on one side and white on the other.
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Wonderful again … thanks again and again and again, dear Leyla!
I’m happy you like it, Antonie!
Precioso el pinguino.
Gracias Martha, me alegra que te guste!
This is such a precious model. Congratulations Anna Turner for created this gem! And Leyla, what can I say; another superb tutorial. To listen to your voice and watch your hands create is one of my favourite things to do! Wonderful job, ladies! Thank you so much.
Thank you dear Rosemary. It’s always a pleasure to share lovely origami models like these with the community!