THE IRON MAN SUIT HUD

IRON MAN, 2008 – AVENGERS: ENDGAME, 2019

The control systems, readouts and performance reports that surround Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr) face are deceptively simple, but a more effective storytelling device than you think.

Whether it’s receiving a mobile call, a warning about fatal ice build-up at altitude or searching CCTV footage (complete with little windows containing thumbnail clips), Downey Jr is shot face-on in extreme closeup in a dark environment to represent the inside of the suit. The overlaid animated elements are not only assembled relative to each other, but look like the whole visual field is anchored to Downey Jr’s point of view by moving as a whole with his head or eye movements.