How to Make an Origami Manatee

The manatee is a gentle marine mammal, often referred to as a sea cow. It's closest land animal relative is the elephant. Many of the origami manatee folds require imprecise manipulation due to the round features. Become familiar with the manatee form to shape its curves in origami.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Square origami paper
• Flat working surface

1. Crease and unfold a square piece of paper diagonally in half. Position the paper like a diamond. Fold the two side corners in from the top point to the center crease line creating a fish shape.

2. Open the last fold on the right side. Make the same previous fold from the bottom point. Incorporate the fold from both the top and bottom points leaving a upward gaping triangle at the center. Crease the gaping triangle and fold up. Repeat on the left side.

3. Flip the two creased gaping triangles inside out to make the fins. Manipulate the downward facing side wall of the triangles to open up and flip out. The triangles must be pointing away from the center line and the back side of the paper is showing.

4. Take the bottom point up to the center point and crease. Pull out both side walls of the triangle just formed so that the shape looks like a shield representing the begging of a tail.

5. Angle the tail start to create a square by pulling the point back and down. Fold in the upper left corner of that square as well as the resulting tip. Turn the entire paper over, open up and flatten the triangle tail.

6. Return the paper to its original position. Extend out the side walls of the triangle tail so that it appears as a square on the flip side. Fold the lower side walls of the body in to align it into the folded point of the tail.

7. Position the paper with its crease on the original diagonal fold. Crease and unfold the top point approximately 1'3 of the way back to the center point and then fold again from that point over itself to the center point.

8. Pull the side walls of the crease just made from the 2/3 mark down to make a slight overhand fold on each side. Repeat from the 1/3 mark. Tuck the tip down and under the new folds to form a manatee head.

9. Adjust each fin to appear rounded. Make a small upwards and then downwards fold in order to open and curve the fins. Do the same for the tip of the tail.