How to Fold an Origami Jumping Frog
Fold an interactive origami jumping frog with a functional spring back using a single square of paper, sharp creases, and easy-to-follow geometric folds.
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🧰 Required Tools & Equipment
- ✓ Flat working desk
- ✓ Bone folder or plastic ruler edge
- ✓ Smartphone stand
📦 Materials & Supplies
- ✓ 1 sheet of square origami paper (6x6 inch / 15x15 cm)
⚠️ Safety Checkpoints & Warnings
- • Glide finger pads gently rather than rapidly along paper edges to prevent sharp paper cuts.
- • Use a flat tool or knuckles rather than fingernails to burnish multi-layer folds and avoid finger strain.
📋 Step-by-Step Guide (6 Steps)
Create Base Reference Creases
Place your paper colored-side down on the table. Fold the paper in half top to bottom to form a rectangle, crease sharply, and unfold. Fold both diagonals across the top half of the paper by bringing the top corners down to opposite edges, creating a distinct 'X' crease pattern in the top section.
- • A horizontal center crease across the entire sheet.
- • A clean 'X' crease intersecting precisely in the upper half.
- • Folding diagonal creases across the entire sheet instead of just the top square section.
Collapse the Top into a Waterbomb Triangle
Gently push the left and right sides of the top square inward along the diagonal creases. The top edge will collapse downward naturally, flattening into a wide triangle resting over the bottom rectangle. Press all edges flat with your bone folder to ensure sharp, crisp corners.
- • The top half now forms a neat, double-layered triangle.
- • The bottom half remains a flat rectangle extending beneath the triangle.
- • Forcing the paper without guiding the center horizontal crease inward, resulting in crumpled center paper.
Fold the Front Legs
Take the left outer tip of the top triangular flap and fold it diagonally upward so the point aligns with the top apex of the triangle. Repeat with the right triangular flap to form a diamond on the frog's head. Next, fold both of these diamond flaps back outward, aligning their inner edges with the outer diagonal edges to form the splayed front feet.
- • Two triangular frog feet extend outwards past the left and right head profile.
- • The center diamond shape remains distinct between the legs.
- • Folding both layers of the triangle instead of only the top flap.
Fold the Body Sides Inward
Fold the bottom rectangular flap upward so its lower edge meets the horizontal base of the front legs. Next, take the left side of the rectangular body and fold it inward toward the vertical center line, then do the exact same for the right side. This narrows the lower body into a clean vertical column beneath the head.
- • The bottom torso narrows to a straight vertical strip centered beneath the triangular head.
- • Side folds sit flush and do not overlap across the center crease.
- • Folding the side panels over the front leg flaps instead of underneath them.
Construct the Lower Back Legs
Fold the entire bottom rectangular section up toward the head along the horizontal line at the base of the top triangle. Fold the bottom corners of this folded section outward and diagonally downward to create two angled rear feet matching the front feet. Press the thick creases firmly using your bone folder or ruler edge.
- • Rear feet flare out symmetrically to the left and right at the base.
- • All four feet point naturally away from the center body.
- • Asymmetrical rear folds causing the frog to flip sideways instead of leaping forward.
Form the Accordion Spring and Test Jump
Fold the entire lower half of the frog's body upward along the midsection crease. Then, fold only the bottom portion back downward halfway to create an accordion 'Z' shape pleat. Turn the frog over onto its feet, rest your index finger lightly on the rear tab, and stroke backward quickly to launch it into a jump.
- • A distinct Z-shaped spring visible from the side profile of the frog's rear.
- • The frog rests flat on four outward-facing feet and springs forward when tapped.
- • Making the accordion spring pleat too loose, which prevents the paper from storing mechanical tension.
Don’t have everything?
- No Bone folder? Edge of a credit card, ruler, or back of a spoon
- No Origami paper (Kami)? Standard printer paper trimmed to a 15x15 cm square or 3x5 index card