Have you heard? Papercraft is the new destination for obsessive-compulsive geeks (like us) to express their nerdy fandom. But how much range can you really get from folded paper? We’re glad you asked! Here’s 15 of our favourite nerd-powered creations:
Howl’s Moving Castle
credit: Ben.Millett
Ben Millet was a man with a vision: and that vision was to spend 72 hours crafting this loving tribute to Howl’s Moving Castle. Kudos, Ben, for referencing one of our favourite films and doing it superbly well – you win all of the internets.
Katamari
credit: Warm ‘n Fuzzy
Have you ever wasted an afternoon rolling the entire Earth into a giant ball of stuff simply because a giant monster space king thing told you to? Then you’re either clinically insane or a fan of Katamari – the most goddamn addictive game we’ve, frankly, ever played.
Relativity
credit: Crackpot Papercraft
Trust the internet to see an impossible shape and find a way to make it real. This homage to MC Esher tickles not just our fancy, but every conceivable aesthetic G spot on our (stylishly skinny) bodies.
Stewie Griffin
credit: Nerea Marta
This simple, box-like Stewie gets the expression so darn right it warms the cockles of our heart. Altogether now, engage accent and: damn you!
In & Out
credit: ocularinvasion
Teleporting hipster-bear tumbling into an unstoppable loop of infinite regression – amazingly strange or strangely amazing? Discuss.
V
credit: antitezo
So it’s time for a protest, but you’ve left your trademarked V for Vendetta mask at home again like the fool you are. What’s a boy to do? Simple: build your own!
Ceiling Cat
credit: TenSafeFrogs
It wouldn’t be the internet without a picture of cat in here somewhere, and here it is. Though, thanks to its size and the way it appears to be morphing into a ceiling tile, we’re kinda stuck as to whether it’s super-cute or slightly terrifying.
Rex
credit: PuyoDead
The quickest way to detect a gamer is to show them this photo and see what happens. If they jump up and down in girlish delight, they’re OK. If they simply look blank, feel free to defriend them NOW.
Mario
credit: Centella.
Paper Mario is to papercraft what the Sistine Chapel is to ceiling frescos – the absolute pinnacle. How long this probably took we don’t even want to guess; but was it worth it? Heck yes.
Toro Alado
credit: Daniel Naranjo
This menacing cross of a bull and albatross seems to have crawled straight from the brain of Guillermo del Toro one sleepless Halloween night. Spooky, strange and very cool.
AT-AT
credit: Anand Krishnamoorthi
That’s right: you too can now recreate the Battle of Hoth in your living room, armed only with a handful of paper and almost superhuman patience. None of that ‘simply buying the toys’ nonsense for us grownups. What do you take us for?
Pokemon
credit: barron
Paper Pokes – allowing you to recreate the lamest Pokémon in the comfort of your own home. Where the heck is Pikachu goddamnit?
Game Boy Shadow Box
credit: Camera Wences
Heh heh. Yeah, we like: a miniature trip down memory lane, etched out in paper. Anyone else remember wasting literally years of their life playing that thing? Oh good, it’s not just us.
Stormtrooper³
credit: Stéfan
The paper Stormtrooper may not be much cop, but we’re loving this pairing of the old and new ‘toys’. Postmodern comment on the franchise’s diminishing returns or just a cool picture? You decide.
Steve Jobs
credit: Jesus Belzunce
Finally, is there anything geekier than building your own paper Steve Jobs and making it fight a giant Android logo? If there is, we’ve yet to hear about it.
Ron Loeman is the head of digital strategy at London based printing company Print Express. In his spare time he loves gaming and dabbling in the art of papercraft.