Origami Documentary

Why would anyone make a documentary about folding paper? Would you believe that there is not just one but many origami documentaries sharing the magic of folding as an art, as a cultural artifact, and also as a scientific field.

TLDR; Jump straight to our Big List of Origami Documentaries

Through its long history, paper folding has grown from a ceremonial curiosity to a popular pastime and now a mathematical and scientific marvel. This new age of taking origami as a serious field of study began in the 1950s and continues with no signs of abating. So it makes complete sense that people have gone ahead and made documentary films on the subject.

That One Origami Documentary

There’s usually one origami documentary in particular that most people are referring to if they happen to have caught a clip online, or if had it shared with them at some point. THAT origami documentary that most people are referring to is Between The Folds, a fascinating stroll through the art and craft of origami and some of its important practitioners.

Read more about it and watch the Between The Folds documentary

PBS Origami Documentary

Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in the US is a non-commercial entity that is responsible for a lot of wonderful educational and cultural programming. It should come as no surprise that PBS is responsible for the big popular origami documentary I’ve already mentioned. But they have made more. Here are the PBS origami documentaries you should watch.

1.		Between The Folds	56 minutes
2.		The Origami Revolution	53 minutes

Netflix Origami Documentary

Again we come back to Between the Folds. As I mentioned, it is the ubiquitous origami documentary of the past few decades and it is available for viewing on Netflix in some regions.

You can check on its availability where you live at this link: Between The Folds on Netflix

Big List of Origami Documentaries

1.	Between The Folds The origami documentary everyone thinks about when the subject come us.	56 minutes
2.	The Origami Revolution A more recent PBS documentary on paper folding, focusing more on the technology and science aspect of folding.	53 minutes
3.	The Origami Code Essentially the same as the above program, featuring the same footage and segments with some different editing, by French documentary producer ZED. A French language version is available at Le Monde en plis : le code Origami. A shorter German language version is at Der Origami Code.	52 minutes
4.	Level Up – Paper Airplane Edition John Collins, paper airplane design and World Record holder explains the lays of aerodynamics using 5 paper airplane designs for WIRED.	16 minutes
5.	11 Levels of Origami: Easy to Complex Robert J. Lang, physicist and origami artist explains origami in 11 levels of difficulty using a cicada model for WIRED.	16 minutes
6.	How Paper Is Made The art and history of paper making for Journey To The East.	20 minutes
7.	British Origami Society 50th Anniversary Guests Interviews Interviews, with Robert Lang, Paul Jackson, Tomoko Fuse, and Giang Dinh.	48 minutes

Origami TV Series

origami – with Robert Harbin – TV Show

Robert Harbin gained fame as a magician before becoming interested in the magic of paper folding and origami (like Houdini before him). His books on origami went on to influence and inspire generations, including getting Lillian Oppenheimer, the founder of OrigamiUSA, interested in paper folding.

He also starred in Origami, a 10-15 minute television programme for children, to introduce them to paper folding. Produced by Yorkshire Television and broadcast on ITV, 32 episodes of the show ran from 1968 to 1971.¹ Here is an episode available to view online.

Origami magic – NHK World

Japanese broadcaster NHK World has a segment on the culture and practice of traditional and modern paper folding, appropriately called Origami Magic. It is likely accessible through their app.

They have a number of other Origami related programmes to view.

Talks & Presentations About Origami

1.	Flapping Birds and Space Telescopes The Math and magic of origami	by Robert Lang at TED
2.	Folding the Future How Origami is Transforming Engineering	by Dr Mark Schenk at Best of Bristol lecture series (BoB)
3.	Artist Highlight- Robert J. Lang	by Sigourney at The Origami Llama
4.	The Art and Science of Folding	by Paul Jackson at Aalto University
5.	Always Folding How Origami Changed My Life	by Ilan Garibi at TEDxPaloAltoSalon
6.	Beyond the Fold	by Paul Jackson at TEDxShenkarCollege
7.	Folding Paper Art Workshop	by Richard Sweeney
8.	Origami Folding the Local Universe	by Fiona Crisp and Dr Mark Neyrinck at the research centre, Paper Studio Northumbria in 2017