3D Printed Animals: 15 Great Models for Your Menagerie
Eldon Burr
Jan 10, 2020
Our love and fascination of animals shows in many ways, and now, 3D printing is one of them. Check out these awesome 3D printed animals!
Lions and Puppies and Bunnies, Oh My!
The 3D printing community may be populated by tech-heads and engineers, but that doesn’t mean they don’t love animals too! From educational and articulated pieces to decorative art and toys, there’s no shortage of 3D printed animals to make.
If you’re an animal lover and wondering where to start, look no further because we’ve got 15 of the best animal models right here in this article!
Like something you see but don’t have the means to make it? Then check out Craftcloud, the 3D printing and price comparison service from All3DP. You’ll instantly find the best price and provider for your needs, with no added fees!
Figurines & Models
A great way to get experience 3D printing is to make models that can be printed relatively easily. Printing animal designs is a great way to do just that, and you also get something nice that you can put on display for years to come.
The models in this section represent some of our favorite basic models and figurines. Enjoy!
Articulated Elephant
This articulated elephant was made to be a goodie for customers of LeFabShop, in France. It’s modeled after the Nantes Mechanical Elephant.
If you’ve got kids, they’re sure to love this cute design with movable legs. For extra cuteness, why not print something to ride the elephant?
Who made it? LeFabShop
Who printed it? 1491 Thingiverse users have made this with few issues, so it should be an easy print. The trunk may be fragile, however, so another user made a remixed version that fills in the holes.
Where to get it? Thingiverse
Mike the Tiger
This model was made from a scan of the “Mike the Tiger” statue outside the Tiger Stadium at Louisiana State University.
Alone, it already looks coold, but a custom paint job could turn it into the real thing.
Who made it? rowiac
Who printed it? At least one MyMiniFactory user has made this model, which boasts 1,382 downloads.
Where to get it? MyMiniFactory
Low-Poly Horse
This model is a remix from YahooJAPAN on Thingiverse, but it’s still a really cool model! A low-poly horse would go great not just on a desk, but in any action scene or other display where horses are needed.
By the way, if you’re looking for generic models of (normal-poly) animals, check out the rest of YahooJAPAN’s designs.
Who made it? michaelmplatt
Who printed it? With over 3,300 downloads, at least two users have made this.
Where to get it? MyMiniFactory
Gadgets & Functional Items
Who doesn’t love gadgets? We certainly do, and if you’re an animal lover, why not combine the best of both worlds?
In this section, we’ve picked some of the coolest animal-themed 3D printable gadgets and functional parts we could find. It’s always great to see practical, inventive, and cool items, so let’s take a look!
Owl Pen Holder
If you’re looking for a practical and beautiful pen holder, why not give this owl a try? Beyond that, many owl species are also threatened or endangered, which makes this a great and practical piece for conservationists.
Who made it? mingshiuan (remixed from “Owl Statue” by Thingiverse user cushwa)
Who printed it? At least two Cults3D users have made this, so it’s definitely printable on an FDM printer.
Where to get it? Cults3D
Multi-Function Scorpion
If you want something really cool but also practical, this one’s for you! Among other things, this model can be used to hold all sorts of items, and the tail is fully articulated, making it look much like a real scorpion.
This is another print that would look great on any desk. And though it requires a raft, and some oil for the joints is recommended, the entire model can be printed in one go.
Who made it? muzz64
Who printed it? 131 Thingiverse users have made this, so you can be sure it’ll work. That said, take care when removing the raft and when rotating the pincers for the first time to avoid breaking it!
Where to get it? Thingiverse
Flying Sea Turtle
The creator of this model made it after becoming aware of the harm that plastic straws are causing to the sea turtle population. We think it’s one of the coolest models on our list because it’s an action model that allows one to see the sea turtle swim realistically when the hand crank on the base is turned. (There’s also the option to print the turtle without the base.)
Who made it? Amao
Who printed it? At least four members of the Cults3D community have made this, with 153 on Thingiverse. The creator recommends using rafts and oiling the movable parts.
Where to get it? Cults3D, Thingiverse
Entitled Goose
This model is based on an existing SketchFab model, which is in turn based on a character from a video game called “Untitled Goose Game“. This is one of those models that’s likely to turn heads simply because it stands out just about wherever you might put it.
The maker suggests inserting a strong disc magnet to allow it to hold keys and other metal objects. And based on the above picture, that seems like a really good idea.
Who made it? gynni
Who printed it? 110 Thingiverse users have made this model, so it’s definitely printable, though it will require supports. There are few reports of any serious difficulties.
Where to get it? Thingiverse
Cute Whale Planter
Who says whales don’t have a place in the garden?
This cheerful whale is designed to allow for proper drainage at the same time as looking great! One of these would go well on any window sill or patio stone. It’s also a fairly simple print, so it should be great if you’re looking for something that doesn’t need glue or lots of post-processing.
Who made it? 3DCentral
Who printed it? With over 2,200 downloads and a simple design, this model should be easy enough to print, though only one user has posted a make.
Where to get it? MyMiniFactory
Toys & Games
Animals can surely be fun to play with, but they can also be quite demanding. Find the middle ground with these 3D printable toys and games!
This section is particularly great for kids and the young at heart. Give the kids something to play with or have a bit of fun yourself!
Animal Chess Set
If you like to play chess and have a 3D printer, there’s a good chance you’ve thought about printing a chess set. Well, what are you waiting for!
These beautiful figurines look so cute – they’ll make a great set both in and out of play!
Who made it? David_Mussaffi
Who printed it? 15 Thingiverse users have made these with few reports of difficulties, so they should be easy enough to print with PLA or other materials.
Where to get it? Thingiverse
Impossible 3D Cat Puzzle
Time for curiosity to… help the cat. Print off the pieces to this puzzle, and you’ll have a great way to kill… time and challenge your problem-solving skills. Despite being impossibly difficult, it is indeed solvable.
Who made it? emillauzon
Who printed it? At least one user made this, with 59 others downloading it, but it’s a relatively simple print and shouldn’t be too troublesome.
Where to get it? MyMiniFactory
Educational Models
3D printing allows us to visualize and physically examine things that once would have required a bit of reading or a visit to the museum. Teachers can enrich their lesson plans with easily accessible and printable models.
While there’s no shortage of toy and novelty animal models to play with, there are also some very nice educational ones to choose from. Of course, some of the models we’ve already mentioned could also serve as educational pieces, but the models in this section are specifically made for the purpose.
Woolly Mammoth Skeleton
We’re always delighted to see 3D printing pushing boundaries and opening minds. Thanks to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, there are plenty of scans of exhibits, such as this truly awesome woolly mammoth skeleton.
The original 3D model was converted to this 3D printable version. Though simple in concept, you may be surprised at just how breathtaking it is when printed.
Who made it? rowiac
Who printed it? With over 2,100 downloads, it’s a shame no MyMiniFactory users have posted a make, but you will find a few on Thingiverse. The rib cage is the most difficult part and will require supports, so you might want to review the comments section on the model’s Thingiverse entry.
Where to get it? MyMiniFactory, Thingiverse
Steak Profile
Chuck, round, brisket – what do these words even mean? Wonder no more and impress your friends with your extensive knowledge of beef and butchering.
Print off this handy steak profile and teach yourself which part of the cow a given cut of meat comes from. If you’re a foodie or looking for a simple print that will help you become a more knowledgeable cook, this is the print for you!
Who made it? AnthonyLu
Who printed it? With no reported makes, it’s hard to say. But there have been over 100 downloads, and the model is fairly simple, so you probably don’t have to worry about having any problems while printing.
Where to get it? MyMiniFactory / Thingiverse
Film & Television
Once upon a time, cartoons were limited to two dimensions. Fast forward to now, and that’s no longer the case, with many cartoons and even films moving to 3D. Fans are even making their own versions in some cases!
In this section, we’ve selected a few popular animal characters brought to life by the community.
Pumbaa
Many of us who’ve lived through the 1990’s recall when “Timon and Pumbaa” first hit the screens singing “Hakuna Matata”. The catchy tune is one of Disney’s most iconic songs and so are the characters that sang them.
If you’re a fan of “The Lion King” franchise, this is a fantastic model to display, print, or play with.
Who made it? dmstlrc
Who printed it? Nobody’s posted a make yet, but that’s probably because it’s a fairly new upload and has multiple pieces. We think it shouldn’t be too hard, but be ready to experiment a bit. Also make sure to check out the assembly video from the creator.
Where to get it? Thingiverse
Low-Poly Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Who could forget these iconic heroes? Display them on a desk or, thanks to their special bases, use them as tabletop figurines in these low-poly fantasy tabletop hex grid slots! Any fan of the franchise, young or old, should have a set of these.
Who made it? Davision3d
Who printed it? Five Thingiverse users, and they should be pretty easy to print. The creator does recommend that, at the smallest size, print more than one model at a time to allow for extra time between layers.
Where to get it? Thingiverse
Howard the Duck
Howard the Duck is the anthropomorphic protagonist that many of us know from the movie of the same name. Though based on a Marvel comic and produced by George Lucas, the movie was a box office failure, but that didn’t stop a cult following from rising up from the ashes.
In more recent years, Howard the Duck also made an appearance in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, so if you’re a Marvel fan, this a great model to print.
Who made it? boris3dstudio
Who Printed it? Six Thingiverse users have made this model, so it’s definitely printable, though it may require supports.
Where to get it? Thingiverse
(Lead image source: Alfreako via Thingiverse)
License: The text of "3D Printed Animals: 15 Great Models for Your Menagerie" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.