The satisfying math of folding origami - Evan Zodl

Dig into the mathematical rules and patterns of folding origami, the ancient Japanese art of paper folding.
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Origami, which literally translates to “folding paper,” is a Japanese practice dating back to at least the 17th century. In origami, a single, traditionally square sheet of paper can be transformed into almost any shape, purely by folding. The same simple concepts yield everything from a paper crane with about 20 steps, to a dragon with over 1,000 steps. Evan Zodl explores the ancient art form.
Lesson by Evan Zodl, directed by Charlotte Arene.
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Keep Learning
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View full lesson: ed.ted.com/lessons/the-unexpe...
Dig deeper with additional resources: ed.ted.com/lessons/the-unexpe...
Animator's website: vimeo.com/charlottearene
Sound design: www.campstudio.co/
Educator's website: / ezorigami
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Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Nathan Milford, Tomas Beckett, Alice Ice, Kurt Paolo Sevillano, Max Salas, Xavi Ramos, Khoa Nguyen Anh, Ron Kakar, Jennifer Heald, flóra lili donáti, Megulo Abebe, TAO7 HORUS, isolwi, Linh Tran, Vedasheersh, Michael Chang, Alexander Gruber, Irene Y., Kate Sem, VPpurplebelt, Ujjwal Dasu, Winnie Yeung, Giovanna Suleiman Dores, Moritz Heinz, Theunis Groenewald, Võ Thiên Kim, JasonD, Terran Gimpel, Dillon Jason Ramai, Gareth Thomas, Talia Sari, Allen, Kevin Fowler, Sarat Chandra Vegunta, Gautam, Mahina Bachiller, Bruce Vieira Lopes, Charmaine Hanson, Paul Aldred-Bann, Thawsitt, Jezabel, Adriano Fontes, Xiao Yu, Melissa Suarez, SpartacusDMR, Brian A. Dunn, Francisco Amaya, Daisuke Goto, Matt Switzler and Leonardo Monrroy.

[@ind0266]

Me doing origami in class Teacher: “stop that, go back to doing math!” Me: “oh but I am, oh but I am.”

[@Ra_the_Sun_god]

Just gonna screenshot this comment bc it funny

[@ind0266]

@@Ra_the_Sun_god pppppcfffft, yes

[@shikhapanchal2654]

Hahaha

[@YouthAmphia]

not funny bc it doesnt make sense

[@shikhapanchal2654]

Well, this is what I do during my online math class

[@ga.y.meofthrone]

The animation style is as beautiful as always, props to the animators!

[@MasterCivilEngineering]

Nice👍👍👍

[@mothersaiditsmyturn2play123]

I thought the same thing, it is eyecandy

[@Mary-cd3cl]

What does props mean

[@biTButter-zz6yg]

@@Mary-cd3cl basically "good job"

[@Jamal-xj1vk]

Yeah, this video is visually amazing

[@jeremyshaferorigami]

What a wonderful way of condensing so much origami knowledge into just 5 minutes! My favorite part was the visualizations of the rules for flat foldable crease patterns, especially seeing how the paper does not lie flat when the rules aren't followed.

[@anykhamiraples5333]

WOW, you are a KZbinr!!

[@flamephoenix1653]

Jeremy I'm a subscriber

[@mieldavid9433]

Origamists assemble:

[@window1184]

BADDD

[@drawforge9640]

woah wait a minute hes here yess

[@midlanismail416]

All respect to the person who had to fold all those origami

[@ghostderazgriz]

Don't believe anyone did friend. I believe this was stop motion with 3d models.

[@abhinavkapruwan5797]

@@ghostderazgriz i believe this stop motion animation was done with a origami expert.

[@sobhaks7231]

@@ghostderazgriz can you please tell me how much hours the animator have spent i am curious.

[@redcrown5070]

@@ghostderazgriz well this doesn't make things easier

[@davidw_origami]

@@ghostderazgriz Why would they? Animating that would take so much more time than actually folding it. It's just stop motion

[@EzOrigami]

Special thank you to the TED-Ed team and everyone involved in this lesson, it has been a pleasure working with you! Every time I watch this, I am still blown away by Charlotte's incredible animations. The amount of time and effort that when into this production really shows, and it turned out better than I could've ever imagined. Thank you for bringing my vision to life! 🤙

[@Josh.V]

ye

[@richanddarksbane1439]

Incredible

[@Nintendo_song-maker]

hello ezorigami

[@tpsam]

In school they really miss to capture this about math Math is actually quite beautiful and almost artistic and creative Math isn't just about robotically calculate something Math is about understanding connection and recognizing patterns And this connections and patterns are very much necessary for us to understand better what is going on in everything around us Math is important to understand basketball better Math is important to understand music better Math is important to understand luck better Math is important to much more than engineering and physics and obviously engineering and physics are extremely important to begin with

[@mikopiko]

Well said, I used to hate math because of how boring it was during school. It all changed when I took my engineering degree, Math was much much more then what we were taught, it's a whole new language and makes you understand your reality more. For every new chapter I opened in my match book was something new, a concept that gave me a better understanding about things. Math allowed me to express myself and prove my ideas in ways that I was unable to do previously. If I had one wish, it would be to highlight the beauty of mathematics to the whole world.

[@renanmendes1299]

@@mikopiko 1

[@renanmendes1299]

dlepep

[@axelpatrickb.pingol3228]

Blame the Babylonians for that...

[@dastaniam]

Agree

[@shanice9094]

so 10 year old me was a mathematical genius

[@Brightifyisthebest]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYWkh6Kfor-Ngtk

[@Arc84923]

@@Brightifyisthebest why are you advetising in a reply section?

[@tirthampal8942]

@@Brightifyisthebest pathetic

[@mrsnake9642]

It's annoying, but you don't have to bully him for advertising his channel

[@Arc84923]

@@mrsnake9642 alright, i guess.

[@jonakashima]

Good job, very well explained and amazing animations!

[@flamephoenix1653]

Jo I'm a subscriber I like your videos

[@jonakashima]

@@flamephoenix1653 thank you :D

[@jewelflores4105]

You're here😃 I'm a fan 😍

[@breagle4525]

@@jonakashima hi jo :))))))))

[@jonakashima]

@@breagle4525 hi

[@ghostderazgriz]

Animator deserves 3 weeks off and a bonus. Well done.

[@hardikpande6970]

"Who knows what possibilities will *unfold* next" MinuteEarth puns intensifies

[@airplanes_aren.t_real]

Yeah but I prefer this kind Better timing and just in the ending instead of 100 per video

[@airplanes_aren.t_real]

@Daniel Marinho so true

[@henrymoore5777]

I noticed

[@DreymonGaming]

What is the meaning of Who knows what possibilities will unfold next"?

[@midimusicforever]

Imagine the work it took to animate this!

[@vozamaraktv-art5595]

Couple years from now , if you look up the synonyms of the word 'quality' in a dictionary, 'TED-Ed' will most likely be at the top of the list.

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

ME: I don't like Math MATH: Resistance is futile. Nothing escapes Math!

[@mahfuzvx3967]

It do be like that doe.

[@Kevin-jc1fx]

Facts !

[@alexismandelias]

Actually yes

[@johnather]

The entire universe can be broken down into math (as far as we know atm) so yeah ur stuck with it

[@vishank7]

I cannot give enough credit to the animators and creators of this video. Their work is just as beautiful, satisfying, and intricate as the art of origami itself! Keep up the amazing work Ted!

[@manya7934]

HOW IS THIS SO WEIRDLY INTRIGUING AND SATIFYING!!!...

[@Brightifyisthebest]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYWkh6Kfor-Ngtk

[@momentsago1013]

Me: "When are we going to ever use math in our lives." TED-Ed: *hold my pythagoras thereom.*

[@indigofenrir7236]

Brian Regan: TWO PLUS TWO EQUALS CHICKEN!

[@renanmendes1299]

"thereom"

[@zorinx6590]

Damnn i never thought Paper ASMR would sound Relaxing

[@jaideep_rankawat]

"No papers were wasted or harmed in the making of this video!!"

[@funsometimes]

You can tell the amount of work that was put into this. Fantastic job for everyone involved in this production!

[@kevinorigami]

I’ve been doing origami for 6 years and was so excited when I saw Ted-Ed did a video on this, this is great!

[@chinmayeelenka9589]

That sounds great

[@Lantripery]

some japanese bloke: "folds paper" I'm a genius, this will impress the emperor. humans now: "haha crane go brr"

[@sungyoon93]

I had a math professor in HS that absolutely loved origami, so whenever I had a new piece in my artistic repertoire (loved because of technique and as an art form) I would share with him and he would teach me one in exchange. He was the best math teacher I could ask for: dynamic, sarcastic, the type that follow you progress and watches your character development with pride (I had the same professor for almost 3 years)

[@breagle4525]

Wait a second, There was a ted talk about this 12 years earlier.

[@justaman9344]

*Oh yeah Its all coming together*

[@sharonsabu365]

repost?

[@leihuang6860]

and i saw this video basically 12 minutes after it was released

[@monkestronk1227]

@@leihuang6860 coincidence?

[@harshmeena8655]

@Lukas Christner u missed 12 hour watch

[@syamilsyarifuddin7431]

Even just a piece of paper can turn to a masterpiece, and so do us 💜

[@justonlyalta]

Only a stop motion artist can tell how much effort this video took. 👏👏

[@campa_t]

this is the channel that answers those questions that come to you mind when you are on the bed trying to sleep or during a long hot shower

[@johnfarrell4745]

This is simply awesome! What an amazing way of sharing the benefits of origami to the world as a whole and not just paper folders. Wonderful work, Evan!

[@greyhoang]

They never failed to surprise me with their ever amazing animation. Plus the narration of this video fits Origami and Japanese "vibe" so much: calm, collected, minimalist, elegant. Awesome video!

[@spinningninja2]

I memorized a tooooooon of origami patters in middle school to stay sane, and since quarantine started I've been re-discovering that hobby by making a bunch of modular 3d shapes and stuff. It's been a lot of fun

[@michaelnelson2976]

Oh my goodness, this is just so much. The animation, the ideas, the whole video. Wow. Overwhelmed.

[@gachaandrobloxfamily9096]

I love origami thank you Ted Ed for talking about it

[@Brightifyisthebest]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYWkh6Kfor-Ngtk

[@parajmodi1210]

Beautifully explained with a visual treat. Thank you TED-Ed for bringing amazing content to the viewers every time.

[@36shubhanshurajxiij80]

20 Step Crane- "huh Easy" 1000 Step Dragon R.I.P.

[@justanorigamist3466]

İ folded 800 step dragon

[@justanorigamist3466]

İ am going to fold this 1000 step dragon his name is ryujin 3.5

[@hardikpande6970]

4:18 CGP Grey's "Hexagons are the Bestagons" is right yet again!

[@AnnakiVEVO]

the stop-motion is amazing and thank you for the paper sound effects and no music.

[@lilbigp4036]

Ted Ed has always had great animations but I think this was truly next level on all fronts. I could barely concentrate on what was being said because I was too focused watching the animation. Amazing!

[@joanhoffman3702]

I have been doing origami for many years. This video was a delight. I hope it will encourage viewers to try their hands at paper folding. 😊

[@thetechshow2023]

I really impressed by the animator who created this innovative and time taking animations for us to understand better ❤️.

[@sleepydog9968]

this is incredible! absolutely wonderful stop-motion! never knew about the laws of origami. things start to make sense now. everything about this video, from the narrator to the figures to the stop-motion, was a delight to watch! bravo, everyone involved! and thanks for sharing :)

[@RayRay-lo2wn]

The whole video is so good! The animation is on point, the narration and the the way it is explained is so fulfilling. TED-Ed never disappoints ♥

[@muktigupta4507]

I'm really in love with the animation and origami presentation . I really love origami and videos related to applications of arts like these in vast areas.

[@caseygreyson4178]

I am absolutely encapsulated by the animation on this! Wonderful work by Charlotte Arene!!

[@swapless]

What I love about these videos is that they always end with a relevant, insightful... pun

[@aryayudha6414]

The folding animations are so satisfying. Good job, Ted-Ed!

[@birdcat8382]

That crisp is just sublime.

[@phantanhuy9444]

As an origami enthusiast myself, this video is as beautifully animated as it is educational. Props to you Ted-Ed.

[@loriorihuel3367]

The time it took to illustrate and animate the complexity of paper folding reflects a commitment and passion for the art (and science) behind origami.

[@3000pielover]

the animation is so beautiful

[@celula3504]

This is an amazing channel, it has helped me a lot with new knowledge in a clear and entertaining way. At the same time, as a scientist it has motivated me to start my own journey in this world of KZbin.

[@hb3549]

I could stare at these origami animations forever, superb!! Its so satisfying the papers folding and unfolding

[@mihirverma5338]

I just wanna say, the animator is extremely talented. Thank You for making my day.

[@a.human.]

Origami has always been one of my most favorite forms of art, because all you need is some paper and learn the techniques to create something beautiful. No glue, no tape.. just so easy and so simple, yet such complicated stuff you could pull off!

[@michaelgdellaquila2292]

This view was literally mesmerizing to watch. Great job!

[@fatpenguin114]

The Animation is so much more than amazing. Thank you for posting your videos. I learn so much everyday from your channel! Even the narration is so good and also the explanation!

[@anuuuujgggb]

These concepts and videos are incredible!

[@hitarthmodi3600]

Behind the scenes people i am grateful to you to bring the origami to life. And the narrator with excellent explaination. Thank you ❤️

[@gayatrimestry4509]

this might just be my favorite video by yall loved ittt

[@kimito7521]

I literally did a GMAT question on this, when I first learned how a different form of origami - kirigami - had uses for nano-scale applications such as fabricating unique space age materials or to remove plaques from the inner walls of arteries. Amazing application really

[@SunniDae333]

This might be the most amazing animation by TED-Ed ever. Wow!

[@ashpersonified6447]

This is such a beautifully animated video. TED-ED puts so much effort into their videos!

[@haphuongle2920]

Origami is how I thrived during childhood, spending most of my time playing by myself in my house. The other thing that helped me is reading, a lot of reading. One model (a scorpion) took me 3 years to figure out. Now that model is the most complex one that I still remember how to fold without instructions or crease pattern.

[@ronnoc5278]

This animation and foley is so brilliant!

[@xess799]

A point comes when this animation feels real

[@nadinerich]

My oldest two sons have been obsessed with origami for over 8 years and had an origami business for 6 years. They're going to love this!

[@abhay06976]

Animations unfold as beautifully as the art and maths itself! Bravo!!

[@someone__something]

The animation in this video was absolutely beautiful I couldn’t look away :)

[@sankalp2520]

the stop animations in this video are the finest!!

[@VictoriaBeliever]

This was elegant, stunning, and so satisfying. I loved to sounds you used

[@coldperson8404]

the animation so beautiful I can't take my eye of it

[@arkadeepdas4444]

The animation is TOO beautiful!

[@0nyr]

The sound design is awesome.

[@muhammadabdulrehman1540]

I liked the animations in this one a lot. Simple yet beautiful.

[@winterroll5255]

The animation is at the next level here!!!

[@rosemarybrowne227]

This is superb! Thank you, Evan.

[@ElenaBailar]

This animation is so impressive. Just beautiful.

[@ia9807]

The animation and sound is wonderful.

[@SM-zw3on]

Some one had to say it. The animation looks ... satisfying. Great audio recording too. Stunning.

[@nilsragnar1347]

Wow this video is extraordinarily well made, I can barely imagine the amount of time required to produce something like this. Impressive!

[@salted3507]

That paper's sound and quality is just beautiful

[@suhailshaik7442]

Aah...! Another mesmeric animation from TED👏👏

[@deeptinadkarni4778]

Amazing video of the amazing art!! Thank you Ted Ed 😊

[@RAyLV17]

Man!! these animations are soo good!

[@gaminghardx]

They keep making these awesome videos! SUPERB

[@hoiaapje18]

highly impressed by the video's animation, and the story ofcourse! keep it up!!

[@shikhanshu]

I did not expect this topic to be THIS interesting and gripping!

[@kajalparmar4179]

its so complicated yet so interesting

[@argandzero0]

This is insane! I'm definitely picking this up! Thank you Ted!

[@MasterCivilEngineering]

Math is always unexpected!

[@umarbasu]

Absolutely sir

[@teddybabystudios5814]

Yeah

[@StrikEagle1379]

Let's see how many subscribers I can get from this VERY INTERESTING comment. Currently:20

[@Yaqoota112]

My maths paper is always unexpected

[@MasterCivilEngineering]

@@StrikEagle1379 lets see how much we both get

[@flamminia]

Absolutely stunning video! Loved it

[@pranphu5248]

Brilliant visuals and an insightful explanation.

[@mahxylim7983]

The animation is soo beautiful!

[@JoseMeeusen]

Wonderful video!! I can watch it over and over again!

[@rohanpotukuchi8424]

Ted-Ed: "Who knows what possibilities will unfold next?" 5:02 Me: My origami piece when I mess up a fold

[@lacklechris]

Yooo the animation had me in awe! This was just beautiful

[@arushimishra1236]

The animation is really very appreciable.

[@shahilansari4801]

Those paper sfx are extremely satisfying

[@SALESPRODUCTIONS]

The motion graphics and editing department that made this video needs a raise and a vacation. And some kind of award. My God.

[@fifsqueak]

the animation and lesson are fantastic!!

[@woozybydefault]

That animation was so smooth!

[@astrophile8432]

Now that's definitely a fabulous way of relating it with the universe ♥️🔥