What age is this origami T. rex for?

About Adults. It is rated “Master” (level 5 of 5), with 40 steps, and takes about 80 minutes.

What paper do I need?

2 sheets of origami paper (15 cm, plus a small 7.5 cm sheet for the head) No scissors or glue are needed.

What is it called in Japanese?

In Japanese it is “ティラノサウルス”. The word origami (折り紙) itself means “folding paper”: ori = fold, kami = paper.

Can I print the instructions?

Yes. “Print the diagram” puts every step on one page (or a PDF), and the practice sheet has the crease lines printed on the paper. Free for home and classroom use.

★★★★★Master AnimalsOriginal

How to make an origami T. rexティラノサウルスT. rex

The master version of a T. rex with its huge jaws open, made from two sheets. The first sheet becomes the tiny arms, bent legs and long tail; the second becomes the big head that slips onto the neck.

40 steps
about 80 min
2 sheets of origami paper (15 cm, plus a small 7.5 cm sheet for the head)
Adults

How to fold

1まい目：三角に折る
Sheet 1: Fold in half to make a triangle.
さらに半分の三角に折る
Fold in half again.
袋を開いて、四角につぶす
Open the pocket and squash it into a square.
うらがえす
Turn it over.
こちらも袋を開いて、四角につぶす（正方基本形）
Squash this side into a square, too. This is the preliminary base.
下のふちを、まん中の線に合わせて折りすじをつける
Fold the lower edges to the center line and unfold.
上の三角を折って、折りすじをつける
Fold the top down and unfold.
1まいめを下から持ち上げて、ふちを折りすじで内側へ（花弁折り）
Lift the bottom corner of the top layer and fold the sides in along the creases (petal fold).
上の折りすじが「ちょうつがい」。左右のふちがまん中でぴたりと合うように、ゆっくり持ち上げます。
うらがえす
Turn it over.
こちらも、下のふちをまん中に合わせて折りすじをつける
Fold the lower edges to the center line and unfold.
こちらも花弁折り（鶴の基本形）
Petal fold this side, too. This is the bird base.
下のふちを、まん中の線に合わせて折る
Fold the lower edges to the center line.
うらがえす
Turn it over.
下のふちをまん中の線に合わせて折る。上の1まいの上のふちも、まん中の線に合わせて折る
Fold the lower edges to the center line. Fold the upper edges of the top layer to the center line, too.
うらがえす
Turn it over.
左半分をうしろへ、半分に折る（山折り）
Mountain fold in half, folding the left half behind.
横向きにして、うらがえす。とがった先が左右にくるように置く
Turn it sideways and turn it over, so the points face left and right.
下の角を、ななめに内側へ折りこむ（中わり折り）
Fold the bottom corner up inside at a slant (inside reverse fold).
うしろ（右）が深くなるように、ななめに折りこみます。腰が太くなります。
左の先を、中わり折りで下へ（前足）
Inside reverse fold the left point down to make the arms.
前足の内側の1本を、上へ引き出す（首）
Pull the inner point of the arms up to make the neck.
前足は外側の2まいのまま。中にはさまっている先だけを、上へ引き出します（中わり折り）。
右の先を、中わり折りで下へ（後ろ足）
Inside reverse fold the right point down to make the legs.
後ろ足の内側の1本を、引き出す（しっぽ）
Pull the inner point of the legs out to make the tail.
前足の先を、中わり折りで前へ（小さな前足）
Inside reverse fold the tips of the front legs forward to make the small arms.
後ろ足を段折りして、ひざを曲げる
Crimp the legs to bend the knees.
足の先を、中わり折りで前へ（足先）
Inside reverse fold the tips of the legs forward to make the feet.
2まい目（小さい紙）：三角に折る
Sheet 2 (smaller sheet): Fold in half to make a triangle.
さらに半分の三角に折る
Fold in half again.
袋を開いて、四角につぶす
Open the pocket and squash it into a square.
うらがえす
Turn it over.
こちらも袋を開いて、四角につぶす（正方基本形）
Squash this side into a square, too. This is the preliminary base.
下のふちを、まん中の線に合わせて折りすじをつける
Fold the lower edges to the center line and unfold.
上の三角を折って、折りすじをつける
Fold the top down and unfold.
1まいめを下から持ち上げて、ふちを折りすじで内側へ（花弁折り）
Lift the bottom corner of the top layer and fold the sides in along the creases (petal fold).
上の折りすじが「ちょうつがい」。左右のふちがまん中でぴたりと合うように、ゆっくり持ち上げます。
うらがえす
Turn it over.
こちらも、下のふちをまん中に合わせて折りすじをつける
Fold the lower edges to the center line and unfold.
こちらも花弁折り（鶴の基本形）
Petal fold this side, too. This is the bird base.
下の2本の先を、中わり折りで中へ入れる
Inside reverse fold the two lower points up inside.
左に向くように置く（とがった先が頭の先）
Turn it so the point faces left. The point is the tip of the head.
手前の1まいを、つけねで段折りして下へ開く（口）
Crimp the front layer at its base so it opens downward. This is the mouth.
つけねの下の角を中心に、細い扇の形に段折りします。下あごが下がって、口が開きます。
首の先を、頭のうしろのすきまに深くさしこむ
Push the tip of the neck deep into the pocket at the back of the head.
首の先が頭の中にかくれるまで、しっかりさしこみます。のりでとめてもOK。
できあがり！足を少し開いて、しっぽでバランスをとって立たせたら、ティラノサウルスのできあがり！歯をかいてもいいね。
Finished! Open the legs a little and let the tail balance it. Your T. rex is finished! You can draw teeth, too.

Fun fact

ティラノサウルスは、およそ6600万年前まで北アメリカにいた、大きな肉食恐竜です。頭はとても大きいのに、前足はとても小さく、指は2本でした。

T. rex was a huge meat-eating dinosaur that lived in North America until about 66 million years ago. Its head was enormous, but its arms were tiny, with only two fingers.

Origami English in this model

❓ FAQ

What age is this origami T. rex for?: About Adults. It is rated “Master” (level 5 of 5), with 40 steps, and takes about 80 minutes.
What paper do I need?: 2 sheets of origami paper (15 cm, plus a small 7.5 cm sheet for the head) No scissors or glue are needed.
What is it called in Japanese?: In Japanese it is “ティラノサウルス”. The word origami (折り紙) itself means “folding paper”: ori = fold, kami = paper.
Can I print the instructions?: Yes. “Print the diagram” puts every step on one page (or a PDF), and the practice sheet has the crease lines printed on the paper. Free for home and classroom use.