Blender | Paper Scroll Animation

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Blender

2026.8.20

I’ll create a paper roll animation in Blender, where paper curls up like a scroll.

Blender: v4.0.2

1. Set Up the Plane

Add a Plane via shift + a.
Stretch it horizontally with sx2.
Then subdivide it in Edit Mode.
Split it into 36 horizontal and 5 vertical divisions.
※ I ended up doubling this in the end.

2. Set Up the Curve

Add a NurbsPath via shift + a.

Next, switch to Edit Mode.
Then enable the checkbox in Curve Edit Mode Overlays.
This lets you visualize the curve’s normals.
It also makes the curve’s direction easier to see.

Choose all points.
Right-click and choose Subdivide, splitting it into 10.

Choose the end point.
Then enable Proportional editing.

Then rotate it with r + y to make it spiral around.
Gradually increase the enabled circular range so it eventually covers the whole curve.

Return to Object Mode.
Move the camera view to the front, and rotate it so the start point ends up roughly at the bottom center.

Return to Edit Mode.
Choose the start point and extrude it slightly along X with e + x.
This time I added two vertices spanning three cells.

Scale down the curve to match the plane at a size that looks right.

Reset the curve’s rotation transform.

3. Link the Plane and the Curve

Apply a Curve modifier to the plane.
Then, moving the curve in the -X direction makes it roll up.

This completes the base for the animation.
I’ll make some further adjustments to make it look more paper-like.

4. Indent the Center

Add a Cube via shift + a.
Change Object Properties > Viewport Display > Display As to Bounds.

Then adjust the scale while taking into account the height of the rolled-up plane.

Next, switch to Edit Mode and add 3 loop cuts.

Return to Object Mode and choose the plane.
Add a Mesh Deform modifier, and set the wireframe object from earlier as the Target Object.
Then Bind the settings to apply the constraint.
※ Make sure to check Dynamic.