Loading LoadingBecause Satoshi Kamiya (the designer) never published official, step-by-step diagrams for this legendary dragon, the community relies entirely on complex crease patterns (CP) and fan-made video guides. The most famous and widely used "complete" video series is by a prolific folder named Daniel Brown (known online as FearlessFlourish / MrOrigami) 🐉 The Challenge: What is the Ryujin 3.5?
The Ryujin 3.5 is widely considered one of the most complex origami models in human history. It features a fully scaled body (over 1,000 individual scales), a massive set of horns, a detailed tail, and four claws—all folded from a single, uncut square of paper. 📊 Tutorial Review Breakdown 1. Accessibility & Format
Video tutorials are an absolute lifesaver for this model. Reading a flat crease pattern (CP) for the Ryujin is an expert-level task that intimidates even veteran folders. Seeing a master physically manipulate the paper, shift layers, and execute the notorious "neck twist" in real-time is the only way many folders manage to complete it.
There is no single 15-minute video that can teach you this. Comprehensive playlists (like those by FearlessFlourish) span over 12 hours of raw instruction
broken into a dozen parts (covering the head, tail, transition units, legs, and scales). It requires extreme patience just to watch, let alone follow. 2. Instruction Quality Ryujin 3.5 Origami Instructions Guide | PDF - Scribd
The Ryujin 3.5, designed by Satoshi Kamiya, is widely considered one of the most complex origami models ever created. Due to its extreme detail—including over 1,000 scales, four legs, and a detailed head—there are no traditional step-by-step diagrams. Instead, folders must rely on a Crease Pattern (CP) and specialized video guides. Core Preparations
Before you begin, ensure you have the correct materials and understand the scale of the project:
Paper Selection: You need a very large, thin, and strong sheet. Most experts recommend Wenzhou rice paper or Double Silk (roughly The Grid: The model is based on a
grid. This pre-creasing process alone can take over 20 hours. origami ryujin 3.5 tutorial
Resources: FearlessFlourish provides the most comprehensive video series covering every major section. Folding Sequence
The model is typically folded in distinct sections rather than all at once:
Pre-Creasing: Establishing the grid and the "long lines" required for the scales and transition units.
Scale Collapsing: This is the most repetitive phase. You will collapse mountain and valley folds to create individual scales across the body.
Legs & Limbs: These require specific "collapsing" techniques to ensure the creases connect from the top and bottom of the paper.
The Head: Often folded separately or at the end, this section involves a complex "full head collapse" and subsequent shaping.
Shaping: The final step involves using tools like an X-Acto knife or tweezers to curve the scales and position the body.
Because this model is nearly impossible to explain in written steps alone, these video guides are essential for navigating the complex crease pattern: Once the scales are done, the "flat folding"
The Ryujin 3.5, designed by Satoshi Kamiya, is widely considered one of the most complex origami models ever created, often taking master folders over a month to complete from a single sheet of paper. There is no single "all-in-one" video for this model; instead, the process is broken down into highly technical stages: preparation, pre-creasing, and specific section collapses like the scales, head, and legs. 1. Preparation & Materials
Success with the Ryujin 3.5 begins with selecting the right paper. For a successful fold, experts recommend:
Paper Type: Use very thin, strong paper like double tissue or sketching paper under 60gsm.
Size: A square of at least 1.5 meters (150cm) per side is recommended, though some attempt it with 1.2 meters.
Grid: You must first divide the paper into a massive 96x96 grid.
Tools: Keep small clips and a pointy tool (like a toothpick or X-Acto knife) ready for shaping the thousands of scales. 2. Pre-Creasing (The Foundation)
This stage involves marking every single fold before the final "collapse."
Scales & Legs: You will need to pre-crease the complex diamond patterns for the leg scales and feet. Once the scales are done
Checkpoints: Many folders follow FoldingPhoenix's multi-part series which covers pre-creasing the scales in meticulous detail. 3. The Collapse (Assembly)
Once the paper is fully pre-creased, you begin the "collapse," where the flat sheet starts taking its 3D dragon form:
Once the scales are done, the "flat folding" stage concludes, and the "3D shaping" begins. The tutorial will guide you through the collapse—folding the head, the horns, the wings, and the tail.
If you ask any veteran folder what the hardest part of the Ryujin is, they will likely say the scales. The dragon is covered in hundreds of tiny, individual scales.
The Grid: The Ryujin 3.5 requires a massive grid system (usually an 80x80 or 96x96 grid depending on the specific crease pattern variation you follow). This stage is purely mechanical.
If you are serious about this tutorial, you need visual aids. Here are the legal and reputable sources:
The defining feature of the Ryujin 3.5 is the scaled underbelly. This is the hurdle where most folders quit. The tutorial will ask you to perform hundreds of "reverse swing folds" or "open unsink" maneuvers.
Fold the paper into 80ths. You cannot measure this with a ruler; you must fold using reference points.