How does realistic origami differ from minimal origami?

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Red origami crane with outstretched wings and pointed beak, displayed against a solid black background. — origami An origami crane.

In the art of origami, realistic and minimal styles differ primarily in their approach to complexity and representation:

Realistic Origami: This style focuses on creating highly accurate representations of a subject. These creations exhibit the main features of the subject and often require advanced techniques, resulting in complex designs that involve many folding steps.1
Minimal Origami: This style emphasizes simplicity. Rather than striving for intricate detail, it aims to capture the essence of the subject through the use of minimal folds.1

While realistic designs may take hours to complete due to their technical demands, minimal designs prioritize a streamlined approach to the folding process.1