How to Make an Origami Transforming Ninja Star

Co-authored by Robert Homayoon

Last Updated: July 21, 2024

Many people are aware of the traditional origami ninja star and while it may be a classic in the world of origami, there exist much more interesting and complex versions of the “Ninja Star”. This set of instructions will teach you how to make an 8-Sided Transforming Ninja Star!

Steps

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1
Get or cut 8 equally sized square sheets of paper. These will form the basic components of the transforming ninja star. The larger the square sheets are, the larger your ninja star will be. A good size is around the size of standard sticky notes.
- Sticky notes will work, but there is a specific way to fold the modules so that the adhesive portion doesn't get in the way.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Making The Basic Modules

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1
Grab one of the 8 square pieces to focus on to make the first module.
- If using sticky notes, having the adhesive side on the back will make folding easier and the added grip can be helpful in making more precise folds.
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2
Fold the paper diagonally from one end to the other to form a right triangle. Repeat with the other side to form an X in the middle of the paper. Fold the paper in half on one side and open it back up. You should have an X with one horizontal line through it made from the creases.
- If using sticky notes, make sure the vertical line goes through the adhesive.
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3
Position the paper so the middle straight line is vertical. Fold the corners to the middle of the cross along the vertical line.
- If using sticky notes, make sure you fold in on the side with the adhesive so the sticky portion is no longer showing.
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This is the finished base module.
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Assembling the Transforming Ninja Star

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The closed front of one piece should be positioned in between the back flaps of the first piece. This forms the beginning of the chain.
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Fold the pointed edges that hang over the crevice of the second module (but not over the other edge) and unfold the paper to form a crease. Do the same thing with the other side's pointed edge.
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4
Follow the above steps with the first 6 module pieces.
- The 7th and 8th modules are a little trickier because the pieces begin to overlap, but still follow the same concept. When adding the 7th piece, make sure the front of the first piece is in-between the back flaps of the 7th piece. Slide the 8th piece into place, following the same pattern as the rest of the pieces with the front of the piece fitting in-between the 2 folded-in edges of the 7th piece and back flaps on either side of the first piece.
- When folding the flaps back edges in, you will notice that there is already another piece in the way. Fold the flaps in on either side of the piece already in the crevice, by holding the middle piece to the side while folding the edges in on either side.
- Do this with both the edges of the 7th piece as well as the edges of the 8th piece. You should now have a fully interlocked octagonal shape. This is the untransformed version of the ninja star.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Transforming the Ninja Star

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Grabbing opposite sides of the octagon, push inward toward the center of the octagon, allowing the pieces to slide against each other and reveal the “blades” of the ninja star. Do this until the hole in the center is closed and all 8 edges of the ninja star are revealed. This is the transformed state of the ninja star.
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Repeat the above step to transform the Ninja Star again, and repeat.

Community Q&A

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Question

Can I use A4 paper?

Community Answer

Square paper works best for this, plus it's much easier to work with.

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I can't assemble it. What should I do?

Clarissa

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If you can't assemble it according to the tutorial, you could try watching an online video on this topic to understand it clearly.

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What if it won't transform?

Clarissa

Community Answer

It would most likely transform. If it doesn't transform, then you must have missed a step or done something wrong.

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Tips

If you choose to use sticky notes as your base modules, make sure to follow the specific method of folding the base module so that the sticky side doesn’t interfere with the finished result.

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Choosing two different colors of paper will give your ninja star a nice alternating design.

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Things You'll Need

Sheets of paper or sticky notes (see Part 1)

Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about origami, check out our in-depth interview with Robert Homayoon .

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How to Make an Origami Transforming Ninja Star

Steps

Making The Basic Modules

Assembling the Transforming Ninja Star

Transforming the Ninja Star

Community Q&A

Video

Tips

Things You'll Need

Expert Interview

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