History Main / CollapsibleHelmet

%%* ''Film/{{Outlander}}'': Kainen wears one in the opening scene. It never shows up again.

** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'': [[Characters/WonderWomanAres Ares]] helmet can behave articulated and go transparent, though given his entire appearance in the mortal world is something he's constructed and his very much magical how his armor looks and behaves is up to him.

** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'': ComicBook/{{Ares|DC}} helmet can behave articulated and go transparent, though given his entire appearance in the mortal world is something he's constructed and his very much magical how his armor looks and behaves is up to him.

* In the ''Film/{{Stargate}}'' movie, the iconic, intricate Egyptian Mythology-inspired helmet/masks of the alien Horus Guards, [[TheDragon Anubis]], and [[BigBad Ra]] fold into themselves in an impressive display of digital effects.

** The {{pilot}}, "Children of the Gods", however, gives the Serpent Guards (and Apophis) more low-key Collapsible Snakeface Helmets that just sorta awkwardly stick up in the air when open. One episode ''implies'' that they collapse like the Horuses; Teal'c is helmeted, we hear the helmet-open noise when he's offscreen, and he's then shown with no helmet at all instead of an open one. This, however, never happens again.

* ''ComicBook/{{Nova}}'': The Nova Corps uniform has a collapsible helmet. While it doesn't exactly fold into the armor, the usually hard Nova Corps helmet becomes fabric, for easy storage when removed. With a simple "flik", a Corpsman can turn it back into a hard helmet, which can keep them breathing in space, among other things.

* ComicBook/CarolDanvers has one of these in her Captain Marvel costume as designed by Jamie [=McKelvie=].

* ComicBook/IronMan's helmet, like the rest of his armor, can be collapsed in different ways. Traditionally, it could be depolarized, becoming like cloth for storage in his briefcase. Since implementing a facemask with his first red-and-gold armor, it can usually be flipped up over his head as well (or, in the case of the Silver Centurion armor, flipped up and ''into'' the helmet). And, of course, more recent developments have allowed the helmet (and the rest of the armor) to collapse into ''himself'' when not in use.
* ComicBook/{{Nova}} has a collapsible helmet. While it doesn't exactly fold into the armor, the usually hard Nova Corps helmet becomes fabric, for easy storage when removed. With a simple "flik", a Corpsman can turn it back into a hard helmet, which can keep them breathing in space, among other things.

* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'':

** ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome'': The collapsible nature of the Iron Spider nanotech suit becomes a plot point during the fight against Doctor Octopus. After ripping off the nanobots covering Spider-Man's chest and integrating them in his tentacles, Doc Ock goes for a deadly strike to the heart. The Iron Spider armor reconfigures to provides protection, but it's clearly low on nanomachines at this point and thus take away those that were constituting Spidey's mask in the process. This ends up as a DramaticUnmask for Octavius, who now realizes that the superhero he's fighting is not "''his''" Peter Parker.

* ''Film/TransformersFilmSeries:'' While there was some precedent in previous works, the films introduced a "battle mask" for a number of the robot characters, allowing them to have more emotive natural faces and then be able to switch to a combat ready mode. This is most notable with Bumblebee, whose mask is appropriately insectoid in appearance, and Optimus Prime, where his iconic faceplate completes the look.

* ''VideoGame/{{Prey|2017}}'' gives you one as part of your E.V.A equipment. It also comes in handy if you get locked in a freezer...

** Downplayed to a lesser extent in ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankGoingCommando'', where Ratchet's Commando helmet has a retractable oxygen mask that extends in certain locations ingame where breathable air isn't abundant, such as in the vaccuim of space, underwater, and at high altitudes. Similar to the Mass Effect example, it's more through story as there's no bespoke animation for this.

* While a full-head helmet is still considered AwesomeButImpractical in RealLife, folding bike helmets are beginning to hit the market (mostly in Europe). These are mostly three piece designs with sides that fold or slid into the larger center piece making up the Front, top, and back of the helmet. [[http://www.dahon.com/accessories/2010/pango-folding-helmet A four-piece design can be found here.]]

* A Fantasy example: Zant from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess''. In one of the final scenes before you fight him to the death, he finally reveals his face underneath the foreboding, evil helmet... among other things. He and his helmet return in ''Hyrule Warriors'', where his introduction and chest-opening cutscenes show it open and close.

* ''TransformersFilmSeries:'' While there was some precedent in previous works, the films introduced a "battle mask" for a number of the robot characters, allowing them to have more emotive natural faces and then be able to switch to a combat ready mode. This is most notable with Bumblebee, whose mask is appropriately insectoid in appearance, and Optimus Prime, where his iconic faceplate completes the look.

** ''Film/AvengersEndgame'': Beyond the usual suspects (Ant-Man, Iron Man, War Machine, [[spoiler:Black Panther, Spider-Man, Star-Lord, The Wasp, Captain Marvel, and the unusual ones like Pepper Potts in her "Rescue" armor]]), the quantum suits are made from nano-tech and can fully collapse. The helmet parts are the first to come off after a trip, even if the rest of the suits stays. This allows the protagonists to [[MarqueeAlterEgo show their faces at almost all times]], except when the helmets are absolutely necessary, [[spoiler:i.e. during trips in the Quantum Realm]]. Owing to the difficulty of applying this trope to users with long hair, in the case of Thor once more having long hair [[spoiler:and now a shaggy beard as well]], the movie cheats by only showing him with helmet either already on or off, never forming like the others. Likewise with Rocket, due to being an alien raccoon.

* ''LightNovel/FateApocrypha'': Mordred's CoolHelmet integrates into her armor at will. This actually impacts how she fights, since she can only use her ultimate [[LimitBreak Noble Phantasm]] when it's off and while it's on it helps hide her identity; in addition to physically covering her face, it serves as a secondary Noble Phantasm that prevents enemy Masters and Servants from easily discovering her skills or abilities. Using her strongest move requires her to reveal her identity freely, thus it deactivates.