Tokyo based illustrator Josh McKible creator of the popular Nani Birds is also the mastermind behind a very happening online art project.

The Nani Bird project is a 3D manifestation of the 100 Nani Bird paintings Josh originally created. The word nani is Japanese for what. As Josh describes, what? is a universal question and he wanted to see just how global artists would answer the birdie question.

The first batch of four 3D folded paper birds were created and a call was put out to artists around the world to try their hand at making their own nani birds. Since then a gaggle of birdies have hatched designed by illustrators such as Yuki Nakano and Shantell Martin.

Each bird can be downloaded and printed for you to create, play with, give to a friend, talk to, whatever you wish. There are even tips and tricks for optimum birdie construction.

Josh is always on the look out for artists who would like to contribute to the ongoing project, if you are interested be sure to get in touch.