How to fold the Blade Runner origami unicorn (1996) | Hacker News Reader

How to fold the Blade Runner origami unicorn (1996)

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Better explanation https://geekydadcrafts.com/2019/01/10/the-blade-runner-unico...

Thanks. These are waaay better instructions.

"Diagrammed by Kenneth Thompson". The name sounds familiar...

David Huffman too, made some very complex paper folding models from relatively abstract mathematics, although apparently did not like them being likened to origami.

I'm having problems interpreting step 23, to arrive at 24.

The archived Japanese instruction wants to unfold the paper entirely, and then ... what? I'm stumped.

I used to fold an origami unicorn design by Marc Kirschenbaum. I can't find any instructions on the Modern Internet, but I used to fold it out of gum-wrappers while sitting in class.

The unicorn from the film itself wasn't "true" origami, being a prop consisting of several pieces glued together, but it really popularized the idea of an origami unicorn and a number of the current designs were prompted by it.

I just read about the backstory. Gaff (Edward James Olmos) put the unicorn where Deckard would find it as a message. He was gently informing Deckard that he was a replicant. Deckard had just dreamed about the unicorn and told nobody, so the only way Gaff could know is if he knew which dreams Deckard had implanted in his memory.

This came from Ridley Scott, not Philip K. Dick.

I am impressed that Scott was so subtle about this for so long. It would have been a short-term boost to hit us over the head with it, as in The Sixth Sense. But being coy about it helped to make the movie a true classic.

It wasn't in the theatrical release.

Only because the studio made Ridley Scott cut the scene. Ridley Scott definitely thinks Deckard is a replicant and interviews of him show that it was his intent.

On the other hand, the book says Deckard is a human.

So it depends on whether you prefer Ridley’s version or the original book’s version, but it wasn’t supposed to ambiguous.

Are we losing old websites like that?

I actually was unaware that this warranted a website. When I was young, I had one origami book. I completed it to about 40%; wasn't too bad but was far away from being really good. Origami is quite an art. These days I tend to watch youtube videos more than look at oldschool books but I loved that old handbook. Never folded a unicorn though.

I also had a small handbook that was given to me by a big brother figure. I spent so much time with that handbook which was very beaten up, its cover fallen off etc. fun memories. Seeing origami reminds me of that time when I was 5-6 years old

I used to do origami obsessively in my youth, and recently picked it up again while spending time with my nephew. I'll have to give this one a go!

I recently picked up an origami book and started practicing in dull moments. I highly recommend it for anyone struggling with phone addiction.

Can you share any tips on good origami books for beginners?

The nice one I found randomly in a store is by Adeline Klam. (originally in French, but I see there's an English version)

Its not foldable from one paper sheet?

Okay?

Origami by definition is folded from a single, square sheet.

When people write a statement and then tack on a question mark they force people to guess what they mean. Is it a typo? Is it an observation and the question mark is supposed to somehow signal disapproval? Or is it an actual question, with a little grammar error that's not uncommon for non-native English speakers?

Maybe this is just me being weird but I simply don't understand why people think a question mark means ", and that's stupid for obvious reasons that I can't be bothered to spell out and therefore I disapprove".

Admittedly my reply was even worse so yeah, pot, kettle.

So what did you mean?

Its not really Origami when its folded from several papers? Its then papercraft or modelbuilding.. Origami is the art of folding it from one sheet.

Are you autistic?

I don't understand why you were downvoted, it's a fair question given the context. I don't think I'm autistic, or if I am, it's only slightly. Clearly in this here case my reactions resemble those of someone with autism, and in hindsight I recognize that. So I'll take your question as constructive feedback and try to be less dismissive in the future.

Its just dev-brain, everyone shares my context telepathically. :D

Correct… they “cheated” a little to make the props for the movie. There are other designs for single-sheet unicorn, winged unicorn, and Pegasus — particularly the ones from John Montroll — but they look a bit different from the movie props, and are harder to fold.

https://johnmontroll.com/books/dragons-and-other-fantastic-c...

Wow, those look fantastic!

I love Blade Runner (I'm obsessed with it), but the unicorn origami never clicked with me. These ones look much better.

And then you have the works of Satoshi Kamyia which is on an even higher level https://origami.ilyazadornov.com/origami/2021/unicorn-satosh...

Wow, impressive! Though I don't dig that "crumpled" style as much, maybe a bit of it but not this much.

Its so alive. The whole world. So rundown. So real, so breathing. It inspired so much stuff in the things i create. Less heroic stuff, more how would the people of a future world eat, sleep, crave6&rave&bebrave, repeat

Thanks for sharing this book.

https://web.archive.org/web/20071017100610fw_/http://cgi.lin...

On the final page it has a link to the "How to fold from a single sheet"

Interesting it starts off the same as a crane

As many origami folds do, I believe

Am I the only one who starts folding an origami design, gets distracted, and somehow ends up with either a crane or a frog?

I got a rock.

I always end up with a Frank Gehry building.

Wow those are trippy like a building going through a dimensional rift or something

Some you could call a Dr. Seuss house the ones more boxy in appearance than curved

Ok, this absolutely made my day haha. Big Blade Runner fan :) Thanks for sharing!

Thank you for sharing, I really enjoy origami and look forward to learning this fold.

Very Cool

Nice

Now we need the 1 cut and fold algorithm.

... spoiler...

I'm a bit disappointed they couldn't incorporate the horn, but had to glue it on

Where is Bladerunner mentioned?

It does reference it in links on the 'COMPLETE' page

The linked page has no mentioning of Bladerunner.

Not even the next linked 3.

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