History Main / EarlybirdCameo

** According to the commentary track on his [[WesternAnimation/TheLorax Lorax]] Review, A early version of the character Hyper Fan Girl appears in his top 11 WesternAnimation/SouthPark episodes played by Rachel Tietz wearing glasses and an orange shirt instead of a sweater. She's later played by Tamera Chambers and is a recurring character on the show.

* In ''Theatre/{{Hamilton}}'', a grown-up Philip Hamilton can be seen receiving a pamphlet in "The Reynolds Pamphlet", although he can easily be mistaken for [[ActingForTwo John Laurens]] until he's introduced properly two songs later in "Blow Us All Away".

-->-- '''Sonic's Origins''', ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForWiiU''

* ''Toys/{{BIONICLE}}'' a staggered release schedule during the 2005 story meant that different Bionicle figures were available in different areas internationally, with the heroic Toa releasing in the winter wave in America and the villains the Visorak releasing in Europe during the winter wave. In the summer wave the two production lines swapped places with the Toa being released in Europe and the Visorak in America. This meant though that the tie in comics and books showed ''both'' lines in their stories, meaning readers were being shown ahead of time what toys would be coming in the summer release in their home country. While a few fans were wise enough to catch onto the release swap and ordered trans-Atlantic purchases of both toy lines in winter, many fans were oblivious to the staggered releases until discovering it on fan forums years later when talking to fans on the other side of the world who swore that they remember getting one of the waves and not the other first.

* ''AudioPlay/StarWarsDookuJediLost'', by Creator/CavanScott, has a mention of a "Lost" Jedi Master named Trennis who ''just'' so happens to share her last name with the protagonist of the then-unannounced initial ''[[ComicBook/StarWarsTheHighRepublic The High Republic2021]]'' comic book series, which is ''also'' by Scott, Keeve Trennis...

* In ''ComicStrip/{{Retail}}'', Josh made an appearance [[http://retailcomic.com/comics/november-14-2006/ in one 2006 strip]], about a year before he was properly introduced as a recurring character.

* Twice in the Gemini arc of ''Podcast/{{Sequinox}}''. In the [[spoiler: Star Invasion]] world, the girls spot foot soldiers from stars that they'd yet to fight. In the Sitcom world they also see the stars themselves, but since it's only in a title sequence they go too fast to get any details on them.

** Many planeswalkers will appear in a set before they're plot relevant. Ashiok appeared in Theros even though they didn't begin being part of the plot until Born of the Gods. One of the three planeswalkers who sealed the Eldrazi prior to the Zendikar block alongside Sorin and Ugin didn't get a card until the Commander 2014 decks [[spoiler: and didn't appear in the plot until Shadow Over Innistrad]].

** In the Critic's crossover with WebVideo/ToddInTheShadows, one can briefly see the [[spoiler: rebuilt version of]] [[WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall Pollo]].

* Tari, the protagonist of ''WebAnimation/MetaRunner'', had a version of her debut in the ''[[Machinima/Supermarioglitchy4sSuperMario64Bloopers SMG4]]'' episode "Mario The Ultimate Gamer", just over a month before ''Meta Runner'' was first teased. This was mainly done to get ''[=SMG4=]'' fans familiar with Tari so that the announcement of her series wouldn’t throw them off as much.

* ''AudioPlay/StarWarsDookuJediLost'', by Creator/CavanScott, has a mention of a "Lost" Jedi Master named Trennis who ''just'' so happens to share her last name with the protagonist of the then-unannounced ''[[ComicBook/StarWarsTheHighRepublic The High Republic]]'' comic book ''also'' by Scott, Keeve Trennis...

* Tari, the protagonist of ''WebAnimation/MetaRunner'', had a version of her debut in the ''[[Machinima/Supermarioglitchy4sSuperMario64Bloopers SMG4]]'' episode "Mario The Ultimate Gamer", just over a month before ''Meta Runner'' was first teased. This was mainly done to get ''SMG4'' fans familiar with Tari so that the announcement of her series wouldn’t throw them off as much.

* In ''WebAnimation/KirbyGuardian'' King Dedede shows up in [=OldOne’s=] [[ImagineSpot Daydream]] in Episode 2 and again on the TV in Episode 6, apparently having been stealing food. He shows up again with a more pronounced role in Comics 5-11

* In Volume 5 of ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'', the main hall of [[AcademyOfAdventure Haven Academy]] is shown to feature a large statue of a long-haired woman wearing [[ChainedByFashion golden chains]]. One volume later, [[spoiler:said woman is introduced as [[OurGeniesAreDifferent Jinn]], the embodiment of Haven's divine Relic.]]
* ''WebAnimation/MinilifeTV'': In "[[Recap/MinilifeTVSeason1Episode1 Dummy Demolition]]", Jack is presented as a nameless janitor who delivers dummies to Chris and Ian before he's properly introduced in "[[Recap/MinilifeTVSeason2Episode15 Season 2 Finale!]]".
* Tari, the protagonist of ''WebAnimation/MetaRunner'', had a version of her debut in the ''[[Machinima/Supermarioglitchy4sSuperMario64Bloopers SMG4]]'' episode "Mario The Ultimate Gamer", just over a month before ''Meta Runner'' was first teased. This was mainly done to get ''SMG4'' fans familiar with Tari so that the announcement of her series wouldn’t throw them off as much.
* ''WebAnimation/TheWaltenFiles'' has both Showbear and Rocket Bunny appearing before their canonical introductions in ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egPO9kUJehU Bunnyfarm]]'':
** Rocket Bunny appears first, delivering a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2PqTT9wl9M&t=180s reversed message to Sophie Walten]] in ''Company Introductory Tape'' before being [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTFnNOL4hwg&t=894s found by Ashley Parks in the backrooms]] in ''Relocate Project''
** Showbear, meanwhile, also appears as a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTFnNOL4hwg&t=878s cardboard cutout of himself in the backrooms]]. He is also heavily implied to be the voice speaking to Sophie in the first hidden video, ''[[https://youtu.be/K07tQqEDOfQ Lucky You]]''.

* ''Toys/BIONICLE'' a staggered release schedule during the 2005 story meant that different Bionicle figures were available in different areas internationally, with the heroic Toa releasing in the winter wave in America and the villains the Visorak releasing in Europe during the winter wave. In the summer wave the two production lines swapped places with the Toa being released in Europe and the Visorak in America. This meant though that the tie in comics and books showed ''both'' lines in their stories, meaning readers were being shown ahead of time what toys would be coming in the summer release in their home country. While a few fans were wise enough to catch onto the release swap and ordered trans-Atlantic purchases of both toy lines in winter, many fans were oblivious to the staggered releases until discovering it on fan forums years later when talking to fans on the other side of the world who swore that they remember getting one of the waves and not the other first.

* In the ''VisualNovel/AceAttorney'' case "Rise from the Ashes" (inserted at the end of the first game when it was updated from the Game Boy Advance to the DS), Gumshoe gives Edgeworth a menu from a French restaurant that's just opened. You have to squint a little, since the picture is tiny, but the man on the menu is Jean Armstrong. Armstrong and his French restaurant don't show up until the third game. Then again, in Japan, they've got the first four cases of the first game, and the two other games as the ''Gyakuten Saiban'' trilogy for the GBA. The fifth case was added in the DS remake, which came later, hence his apparition. It introduced a DubInducedPlotHole in the French version, which tried to make Jean Armstrong sound less French, for [[KeepItForeign obvious reasons]]. He was made Libanese in this cameo, but Italian in the third game, when translated there.

*** Grover firstappeared in another ''Ed Sullivan Show'' sketch as one of the evil monsters who wants to steal Santa Claus' toys.

* Tari, the protagonist of ''WebAnimation/MetaRunner'', had a version of her debut in the ''[[Machinima/Supermarioglitchy4sSuperMario64Bloopers SMG4]]'' episode "Mario The Ultimate Gamer", just over a month before ''Meta Runner'' was first teased.

!!Examples:

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* Franchise/DCComics:
** In the ''ComicBook/New52'', Arthur Light initially appears as an A.R.G.U.S. scientist in ''Franchise/{{Justice League|OfAmerica}}'', and doesn't acquire his Dr. Light powers until the Trinity War crossover that kicks off ''Comicbook/ForeverEvil2013''.
** ComicBook/JohnConstantine's first appearance, officially ''ComicBook/SwampThing'' #37, unofficially ''Swamp Thing'' #25.
** This happened to the new Aqualad in ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' - the version for the animated series was created first, but his comic-book counterpart first appeared in June 2010. The series premiered January 2011.
** [[ComicBook/{{Batgirl}} Barbara Gordon]] had a similar story.
* In the ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' graphic novels, Sparrow Redhouse makes a brief cameo in a season one issue, about two years before her proper debut in the "Rebellion" story arc (which also [[RetCon retconned]] an unnamed, masked extra from the TV series as being her).
* Franchise/MarvelComics:
** [[ComicBook/TheUnbelievableGwenpool Gwenpool]] first appeared on the cover of ''Deadpool's Secret Secret Wars'' #2.
** The Sam Alexander version of Comicbook/{{Nova}} and the Ava Ayala version of ComicBook/WhiteTiger made their debuts this way as well. They were both created for ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan'', but Ava debuted much earlier in ''Comicbook/AvengersAcademy'', while Sam showed up first as an [[WholeCostumeReference alternate skin]] in ''Ultimate VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3'' (albeit still with Rich's standard-issue golden helmet rather than a black one) before making a proper appearance in ''ComicBook/AvengersVsXMen''.
** ComicBook/KateBishop's new costume from ''ComicBook/YoungAvengers'' Vol. 2 made a surprise appearance in Creator/MattFraction's ''ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}}'' before its proper debut. This is only notable since ''Hawkeye'' generally runs on the NotWearingTights and CivvieSpandex tropes, with Kate and Clint rarely, if ever, actually wearing any costumes.
** [[ComicBook/MsMarvel2014 Kamala Khan]], the [[AffirmativeActionLegacy newest]] ComicBook/MsMarvel, made a brief cameo in the final issue of ''[[ComicBook/CarolDanvers Captain Marvel]]'' before making her proper debut a few months later.
** Thane, the son of ComicBook/{{Thanos}}, made a cameo in his [[ComicBook/TheInhumans Inhuman]] form in the ''VideoGame/MarvelAvengersAlliance'' game before making a proper debut in ''Comicbook/{{Infinity}}''.
** Marvel really seems to love doing this with video games. They debuted the new ComicBook/SpiderWoman costume in the ''Spider-Man Unlimited'' mobile game before officially bringing it into the comics. A few months later, they confirmed that Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2099's new costumes from ''ComicBook/AllNewAllDifferentMarvel'' will be showing up there before officially debuting it in the comics.
* The ''ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFriendsForever'' series likes sneaking in characters who haven't appeared on the show yet. For example, Starlight Glimmer, the later BigBad of Season 5, first appeared as a background pony in [[https://twitter.com/AgnesGarbowska/status/574353953116172288 a single panel of issue 14]].
* A couple examples from ''ComicBook/{{Saga}}'' show that Creator/BrianKVaughan does his plotting far in advance.
** Yuma is formally introduced after Alana goes to work for the Circuit, but she was first shown as a portrait on the wall in Heist's house (since she's his ex-wife).
** The March first shows up on a video call to Freelancer HQ complaining about getting shorted on a job. S/he (it?) appears to attack the heroes in the war for Phang dozens of issues later.
* ''Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse'': In the third issue of ''[[ComicBook/StarWarsTheRiseOfKyloRen The Rise of Kylo Ren]]'', a holocron recording of a long-dead female Jedi is shown. Her name is Avar Kriss, and she turned out to be one of the main characters of the then-unrevealed ''[[Franchise/StarWarsTheHighRepublic The High Republic]]'' multimedia project.
* Arthur is properly introduced in ''ComicBook/TheTick'' in issue four, but is visible flying around in background shots before then.
* The Protectobots, Aerialbots, Stunticons, and Combaticons in the {{Creator/Marvel|Comics}} ''[[ComicBook/TheTransformers Transformers Generation 1]]'' comic first appeared in Buster Witwiky's dream in a UK {{filler}} story before their proper debut in the US comic.
* ComicBook/UltimateMarvel
** ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan''
*** One of the scientists working for Norman Osbourne in the first arc is Otto Octavius. He will be important later on, but now, he's just a scientist among all the others.
*** The police outside the warehouse with the thief that killed uncle Ben were led by Captain Stacy. He will appear as a full character later on, as well as his daughter Gwen.
*** Kingpin was mentioned in the Bugle, as a story that Ben Urich is working on. He would meet him in the next arc.
** ''ComicBook/TheUltimates''
*** Loki first appears in a background shot during the first issue of ''Ultimates 2'', when he's making Thor look crazy.
*** Hawkeye appears first in issue #7, but he's so tiny and in the background that it would have been easy to miss him.
* [[spoiler:The White Violin, aka Vanya]] appears near Hargreeves's rushed-up funeral on the cover of ''ComicBook/TheUmbrellaAcademy'''s second issue. [[CoversAlwaysLie She's not present in the actual scene, though]].
* Creator/MarkMillar says that the SupermanSubstitute from ''ComicBook/{{Wanted}}'' is the Utopian from ''ComicBook/JupitersLegacy''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'' has a blink-and-you'll-miss-it reference to Doctor Essex in chapter 40, who later shows up in the sequel ''Ghosts of the Past,'' established as [[spoiler: the [[IncrediblyLamePun sinister]] presence who kept Harry at Privet Drive]].
* In ''Fanfic/DairantouSaintZearth'', The [[Fanfic/{{Heirlooms}} Tenda Cousins]] appear on the first episode to sign the contract.
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5189405/1/Dragonball-Divergence Dragonball Divergence]]'', a much younger Videl appears in Chapter 8, during the transition between the Saiyan and Namek Arcs. She's visiting the hospital to bring her father food.
* ''Webcomic/FateGamersOnly'': Kagetora makes a background appearance in the first GUDAGUDA event, when she'd made her first in-game appearance with the fourth GUDAGUDA event.
* In ''Fanfic/{{Game Theory|LyricalNanoha}}'', several characters from later seasons, such as Zest, Quint, Megane, and Tiida take part the Jewel Seed incident. Teana also gets a brief cameo, and although the girl in a wheelchair [[TheTropeWithoutATitle is never actually named]], it's pretty clear that she's Hayate.
** Gil Graham is initially mentioned in passing and eventually appears himself along with the Liese twins. (In fact Lotte Liese [[spoiler: is an EleventhHourRanger]].) Quint also holds a conversation with her husband Genya (another example of this trope) where they talk about the two girls they're trying to adopt - clearly Subaru and Ginga. And finally [[spoiler: Lutecia appears as a baby]].
** The sequel, ''Power Games'' shocked everyone when [[spoiler: the Mariage]] popped up during the Book of Darkness incident. Amazingly the author had subtly foreshadowed it in advance. Shortly afterwards, [[spoiler: Jail and some of the Numbers enter the story]].
* In ''Fanfic/TheGreatStarshipBattle'', the Twelfth Doctor has one line even though the story was written before the contributors knew who would be playing him.
* In ''Fanfic/TheElementsOfFriendship'', Shining Armor appears briefly in ''Bonds''. He isn't mentioned by name and has a brief, awkward conversation with Twilight, hinting that they're estranged.
* In ''Fanfic/LastChildOfKrypton'':
** Asuka travelled to Japan right after the death of [[EldritchAbomination Sachiel]].
** In both the original story and the redux, Kaworu shows up early on.
* Kaori Furuya who has a major role in episode 47 of ''Pretty Cure Heavy Metal'', appears as a member of Oriyama High's dance club with Hanae in episode 50 of ''FanFic/PrettyCurePerfumePreppy''.
* In ''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/10607424/chapters/23796903 Tales of Beach City]]'' (the 5th "episode" of the ''Connieswap'' series), Holly Blue Agate and the Amethysts from the Human Zoo make a cameo appearance on the painting in ''Critical Connie''.
* ''Fanfic/WeissReacts'' has [[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica Homura, Kyoko and Mami]] appear months before ''Fanfic/HomuraReacts'' was written.
* ''Fanfic/ToHellAndBackArrowverse'': There's a blink-and-you'll-miss-it mention of Talia al Ghul in the prologue.
* ''Fanfic/TheFlashSentryChronicles'': Towards the end of "Into the Forest" a mysterious female shirks the Scorpentine that stung Scootaloo and claims she has plans for it. The figure is revealed to be [[spoiler:Queen Chrysalis, when the same Scorpentine appears in the caves beneath Canterlot guarding Princess Cadance, Twilight and Flash]].
* In ''Fanfic/{{Juxtapose}}'', [[spoiler:the Wild Wild Pussycats show up much earlier to set up the Sky Garden for the Sports Festival]] with Kamui Woods. [[spoiler:Hawks]] appears at the same time as a spectator.
* Fanfic/ThisBites examples:
** Bartolomeo was present for Luffy's would-be execution in Loguetown in canon. In this fic, Cross takes the opportunity to temper his passion to be a pirate like Luffy, and suggest that he actually do it right (in canon, while he and presumably his crew had the necessary power to survive in the New World, they had very poor seafaring skills, making it an outright miracle that they made it as far as they did).
** Characters that would only appear in future locations, like the Whitebeard Pirates, the Marine higher-ups, or the Revolutionaries appear to show [[ADayInTheLimelight current events]], or [[spoiler:as spectators to Cross's SBS Broadcast]], even though the Straw Hats have yet to meet them in person. As of Chapter 30, [[spoiler:Admiral Akainu makes an appearance, and he does not like the SBS.]]
** Chapter 31 has both Doflamingo and Scratchman Apoo calling in to [[spoiler:the SBS Broadcast]].
** By Chapter 36, due to the popularity of [[spoiler:the SBS]], it's almost easier to list the characters who ''haven't'' made an appearance yet. Kaido being one large, glaring exception.
*** Kinda justified since the manga only very recently showed anything about Wano, as [[spoiler: Wano is shown as being utterly isolated. While Kaido and his lackeys do have access to Transponder Snails, it is rather doubtful that ordinary citizens do as well. And even if they did, even speaking against Kaido gets you kidnapped by his Mooks. He probably has outlawed listening to the SBS.]]
** Chapter 52 shows Charlotte Pudding listening to Lola's guest appearance on SBS. Despite all the change that the Straw Hats have brought about and the respect they have earned, she does not think much of them.
** [[spoiler: Stussy]] makes an early appearance in the aftermath of Strong World, delivering Indigo to the World Government.
** During Omatsuri Island, we are shown Zou, and its rulers Lord Nekomamushi and Duke Inuarashi. More of them were seen in the Enies Lobby arc. They quite like Soundbite's Abbott and Costello, to the point decided to organize a baseball game as a substitute for their usual battles. Their aide Wanda swears revenge against Cross for that very reason.
** In Chapter 61, the Beast Pirates are finally seen for the first time pre-timeskip with their representatives Sheepshead and Ginrummy in Skelter Bite.[[note]] Even though Pekoms and Baron Tamago are also present, they were already mentioned in the story at the end of Enies Lobby.[[/note]]
* [[spoiler:Bethany Hawke]] is mentioned in passing five times in ''[[Fanfic/TwiceUponAnAge All This Sh*t is Twice as Weird]]'' before finally [[{{Transplant}} showing up in person]] to join the [[VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition Inquisition]] in chapter 38.
* ''Fanfic/TotalDramaAllStarsRewrite'':
** Jasmine from ''Pahkitew Island'' appears in the second aftermath episode [[spoiler:before the rest of the ''Pahkitew Island''’s cast is introduced in the four parter.]]
** Also, ''Ridonculous Race'' competitors Sanders, [=MacArthur=], and Brody appear in the four parter.
* In ''Fanfic/KingsOfRevolution'', Ginga (and Subaru and Teana later on) gets introduced earlier than the original Nanoha timeline.
* ''Fanfic/NewBeginningsSmallville'': Thanks to his future knowledge, [[Franchise/{{Superman}} Clark Kent]] meets [[ComicBook/GreenArrow Oliver Queen]], opens the antechamber storing Jor-El's hologram and gets his cousin [[ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} Kara]] out of her buried ship seven years earlier than in canon.
* ''Fanfic/JuniorOfficers''
** Lekona's wife Blythe makes two small cameos in "Kitsune Fox in Hat Trouble" and "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dead Sea" before making her official debut in "Blythe and the Risso's Dolphin".
** Sarabi was talked about in "The Undersea Twister" before being officially introduced in "New Squirrel in Town".
* ''Fanfic/TheWarriorsDaughter'': In canon, Bulla is born at Age 780 and shows up in the epilogue of the original series. Here, she is born at Age 766 and shows up in the beginning of the Android Arc.

[[folder:Films — Animation]]
* WesternAnimation/DCAnimatedMovieUniverse:
** ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueThroneOfAtlantis'':
*** John Henry Irons appears in the climax, aiding a fellow construction worker from Atlantian robots. Similarly to his comic counterpart, Superman saves him from death and he becomes inspired. ''WesternAnimation/TheDeathOfSuperman''/''WesternAnimation/ReignOfTheSupermen'' duology finally sees him become Steel.
*** A short attached features Talon, one of the villains in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanVsRobin'' watch Nightwing and Robin while they deal with the Scarecrow (a case Batman was working on in his first scene in ''Throne'' until Green Lantern forced him to break off from it to deal with the plot of the movie proper).
** ''WesternAnimation/BatmanVsRobin'':
*** A picture of Starfire appears in Dick's cellphone, with her face obscured by a text message. While she'd have a voice-only cameo in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBadBlood'', she wouldn't make her official debut until ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueVsTeenTitans'', released one year later.
*** Batwoman and Lucius Fox briefly appear in a Court of Owl-induced hallucination Batman has of a BadFuture before becoming part of the main cast of the aforemntioned ''Bad Blood''.
** ''WesternAnimation/SuicideSquadHellToPay'':
*** A character named Ms. Clay who is said to be a part of Clayface that became sentient appears as a member of the Suicide Squad in the tie in comic to the movie before Clayface himself appears in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanHush''.
*** Giganta appeared in the tie-in comic, recruited by enemies of Scandal Savage and then takes on the Squad, who take her down alive because Amanda Waller decides to also "recruit" Giganta. Giganta later appears as part of Villainy Inc. in ''WesternAnimation/WonderWomanBloodlines''.
* In ''WesternAnimation/WreckItRalph'', if you're paying attention, you can spot Vanellope Von Schweetz ''long'' before Ralph goes to ''Sugar Rush'' and she is introduced. The opening pan through the arcade clearly shows her picture on the side of ''Sugar Rush'''s game box. [[spoiler:[[{{Foreshadowing}} Hey, wait a second]]... why would a character [[GlitchEntity never intended]] [[DummiedOut to be in the game]] be such a large part of the advertising?]]
** In another turn of events, you can see a top-down racing game cabinet labeled ''Turbo-Time'' during that sequence, right at the start to the right side of ''Fix-It Felix Jr''. [[spoiler:That ends up being where the BigBad Turbo is from, being so jealous of other racing games that he destroyed one of them and is trying to sabotage Sugar Rush.]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/Frozen2'' during Elsa's "Into the Unknown", Elsa is shown making snow and ice creations come to life around her; among these are images of the creatures who represent the four elemental spirits.
* In ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitch'', as Pleakley and The Grand Councilwoman are using the lift to go to Jumba's cell, you can see Dr. Jacques von Hämsterviel in a cell to the right. Hamsterviel would go onto become a major villain in the TV series.
* The elephants from Disney's ''WesternAnimation/TheJungleBook'' actually all made their first appearances in the 1960 animated short ''WesternAnimation/GoliathII''. The designs for the short's titular character and his father Goliath I were even recycled for those of Hathi Jr. and his father Colonel Hathi, as well as the scene where the elephants actually all [[HumanTrafficJam pile up on top of one another.]]
* Casey Junior, the circus locomotive from ''WesternAnimation/{{Dumbo}}'', actually first appeared in the Disney animated short ''Film/TheReluctantDragon'', where he is portrayed as pulling a passenger train (as opposed to a circus train) only to end up in a railway accident while attempting to jump a broken bridge during a thunderstorm. His ''Reluctant Dragon'' incarnation looked slightly different than the one in ''Dumbo'': his drive rods are connected to the forward drive wheels, he was longer in appearance, and there was a bell on his roof. However in ''Dumbo'', his drive rods are now connected to his hind drive wheels, he is now shorter and stockier in appearance, and his bell is nowhere to be seen, implying that he was actually overhauled during his repair between the two films. WesternAnimation/{{Bambi}} also made his debut there, even though his ''official'' debut didn't even happen until the year after.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'' has a unique example where what's being cameoed aren't ''characters'', but the locations of future Disney movies: During "A Whole New World", the carpet is shown flying Aladdin and Jasmine past [[WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}} the Temple of Zeus]] and the scene following that has them watching fireworks at [[WesternAnimation/{{Mulan}} the Emperor of China's palace]].
* ''WesternAnimation/WallE'' appears for a brief moment driving the lunar transport vehicle in the ''WesternAnimation/{{Ratatouille}}'' follow-up short "WesternAnimation/YourFriendTheRat".
* "Kid" from ''Anime/TheAnimatrix'' is a cross-medium example. He plays a significant role in the last two movies of The Matrix Trilogy but makes his first appearance in one of the shorts from the animated direct-to-DVD film.
* Margo, the oldest of the three orphan girls from ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'', wears a [[Literature/TheLorax Lorax]] T-shirt in the first movie; [[WesternAnimation/TheLorax a movie version]] from [[Creator/IlluminationEntertainment the same producers]] premiered two years later. In [[WesternAnimation/DespicableMe3 the third movie]], her shirt features WesternAnimation/{{The Grinch|2018}} on it.
* An early bird cameo for a movie line: Music/GeorgeHarrison's line in ''WesternAnimation/YellowSubmarine'' "It's all in the mind" was first said by Music/JohnLennon on Music/TheBeatles' [[WesternAnimation/TheBeatles cartoon show]] episode "Strawberry Fields Forever." (John delivered it as "It's all in the mind, y'know" which was said by George fully in a restored scene in ''Submarine''.)
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Moana}},'' during [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79DijItQXMM his song]] (around 1:59), Maui flashes a tattoo of himself battling a giant crab, describing it as one of his "victories." Said crab, Tamatoa, appears as the antagonist of a subplot later in the film, with clear [[NoodleIncident hints]] that he and Maui have a bitter history together. He also gets a show-stopping musical number called "Shiny".
* [[Creator/RaymondBriggs Raymond Briggs']] father makes a background cameo as a milkman in ''ComicBook/FatherChristmas''. He later starred in his own graphic novel and movie called ''WesternAnimation/EthelAndErnest''.
* ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'': [[TheRival Randall Boggs]] actually makes an early appearance in the Monsters, Inc. commercial before his proper introduction in the locker scene, specifically the last shot where a group of Monsters, Inc employees state "[they're] working for a better tomorrow, today". Sharp-eye viewers will notice that Randall has a unpleasant look towards Sulley in contrast to the happy faces of the other employees, foreshadowing [[AlwaysSecondBest his rivalry and resentment of our main protagonists]].

[[folder:Literature]]
* The novella "Literature/ColdSnap" by Creator/KimNewman features guest appearances by characters from every novel Newman had published up to that point -- and one from ''An English Ghost Story'', the next novel he published after "Cold Snap".
* There's a phenomenon in the ''Franchise/DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse'' where a new Doctor will cameo in the stories of earlier Doctors before their own series begins. It happened with the Eighth Doctor, who cameoed in the Seventh Doctor's ''[[Literature/DoctorWhoNewAdventures New Adventures]]'' before the ''Literature/EighthDoctorAdventures'' began; with the Ninth Doctor, who cameoed in the ''Eighth Doctor Adventures'' before the revival series began; and with the Thirteenth Doctor, who cameoed in ''The Missy Chronicles'' and the [[Recap/DoctorWhoS27E1Rose "Rose"]] {{novelization}} before her first series.
* ''Literature/ForestKingdom'': The ''Hawk & Fisher'' spinoff series' book 4 (''Wolf in the Fold'') marks the first appearance in Green's work of Razor Eddie, who later becomes a supporting character in the ''Literature/{{Nightside}}'' series.
* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':
** Sirius Black is mentioned in the first chapter of ''Literature/HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone''. Despite having a pretty important role in the backstory and in Harry's life, he isn't mentioned again until two books later, as the titular character in ''Literature/HarryPotterAndThePrisonerOfAzkaban''.
** Bellatrix Lestrange first appears in ''[[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire Goblet of Fire]]'' in just one scene, the Pensieve flashback to Barty Crouch Jr.'s trial. She isn't named but it's definitely her, as she's bragging about torturing the Longbottoms while also proclaiming undying loyalty to Voldemort. She is a pivotal character in the last three books.
*** Many Death Eaters who become more prominent in the next book, such as Antonin Dolohov and Augustus Rookwood, are also first mentioned in the Pensieve scene, as is Travers who becomes more prominent in the final novel.
** Mundungus Fletcher is mentioned twice before his first proper appearance in the fifth book: first in the second book [[DirtyCoward trying to hex Arthur Weasley when his back was turned]] [[EstablishingCharacterMoment during a Ministry raid of illegally enchanted goods]], then in the fourth book trying to get compensated for the destruction of a luxury tent he never owned.
** The Lovegood family is also mentioned in the fourth book as one of the families at the Quiddich World Cup.
** Mrs. Figg is mentioned early in the first book, and does not appear (and have her backstory fleshed out) until the fifth.
** Dumbledore briefly mentions that his brother was once accused of performing inappropriate charms on a goat in the fourth book. The owner of the Hog's Head is mentioned in book 5, as is the fact that the Hog's Head itself smells faintly of goats, and he strikes Harry as being vaguely familiar. It is not until the 7th book that Aberforth Dumbledore appears, and is revealed to be the owner of the Hog's Head.
** Several creatures in ''[[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix Order of the Phoenix]]'' were mentioned in ''Literature/FantasticBeastsAndWhereToFindThem'' prior to their appearances, and even Thestrals earned a minor, blink-and-you'll-miss-it reference under "Winged Horse".
** Blaise Zabini is mentioned as the last new Hogwarts student to be sorted in ''Literature/HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone''.
** Gwenog Jones appeared as a ''Wizard of the Month'' (and in [[VideoGame/HarryPotter Famous Wizard cards]]) about a year before her book debut in ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrince''.
* Johanna Mason gets a brief mention in ''Literature/TheHungerGames'', then appears in the flesh ([[NakedOnArrival um]]), a book later. Delly Cartwright is mentioned in the first part of the first book in passing, but doesn't appear until the middle of the third.
* In the ''Literature/JamesBond'' novel ''Literature/NeverDreamOfDying'', a minion for the NebulousEvilOrganisation The Union visits the client who hired them for their latest EvilPlan for a business transaction. Said Client is one Goro Yoshida, the BigBad of the next ''Bond'' novel ''Literature/TheManWithTheRedTattoo''.
* ''Literature/JourneyToChaos'': Hailey Heleti is fully introduced in ''Literature/ManaMutationMenace'' but her first appearance is actually in ''Literature/AMagesPower''. That girl at the head of a girl posse in Roalt castle with the Heleti crest? That's her.
* ''Literature/LivInTheFuture'': Liv's pet kitten Agent Spaghetti appears in her dream at the beginning of the first chapter before showing up at the pet rental in Chapter 3.
* Literature/MickeyHaller, introduced in ''Literature/TheLincolnLawyer'' in 2005, might be one of the relatives Literature/HarryBosch met in the flashback featured in ''Literature/TheBlackIce'' in 1993.
* ''Literature/TheMortalInstruments'': In Clary's dream in ''Literature/CityOfAshes'', [[spoiler: she sees Jace standing with white wings (a reference to his angel blood) and, behind her, a dark-haired boy with blood-tipped wings - Sebastian]].
* In ''Literature/RangersApprentice'', there are mentions of a new sail design by a half-Araluen, half-Skandian boy that can sail into the wind, named after the ''Heron'', the boat in which the plan was first included. The ''Heron'' and its half-Araluen skirl Hal is the main focus of spin-off series ''Literature/{{Brotherband}}''.
* ''Literature/StarTrekNewFrontier'' characters [=Mark McHenry=], Soleta, Tania Tobias and Zak Kebron appear in the ''[[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration TNG]]'' prequel series ''Star Trek: The Next Generation - Starfleet Academy''.
* ''Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse'': Poe Dameron, one of the main characters in ''Film/TheForceAwakens'', is first mentioned in the epilogue of the novel ''Literature/MovingTarget''. An additional reference to him is made in the comic book ''[[ComicBook/StarWarsShatteredEmpire Shattered Empire]]'', which is an {{Interquel}} between ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' and ''The Force Awakens''.
* The ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}}'' novels ''Literature/TidesOfDarkness'' and ''Literature/BeyondTheDarkPortal'', novelizations of the RealTimeStrategy ''Warcraft II'' and its expansion respectively, have this in spades, not only featuring characters from that time period that were only introduced in ''Warcraft III'' and beyond, but also updating the story itself in the light of retcons and heavy additions to the canon in later games. They're almost "the Second War as seen through the prism of ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft''". Let's just say that the flashback in ''The Frozen Throne'' in which Gul'dan wanders into the Tomb of Sargeras is recited almost verbatim in the first book, and Auchindoun plays a much more extended role in the second, along with the introduction of the "new" draenei.

[[folder:Magazines]]
* Longetime ''Magazine/{{MAD}}'' art director Sam Viviano got his first credit for the magazine in 1980 when he was commissioned to draw a front cover -- five years before he would submit anything else.

[[folder:Pinballs]]
* Creator/BallyMidway's ''[[Pinball/MrAndMrsPacManPinball Mr. & Mrs. Pac-Man Pinball]]'' includes a depiction of a baby Pac-Man, prior to the release of the ''Pinball/BabyPacMan'' or ''[[VideoGame/PacMan Jr. Pac-Man]]'' games.

[[folder:Podcast]]
* In episode five of ''Podcast/MysteryShow'', Starlee is hired by David, a former political cartoonist and professional pencil sharpener, to find out how tall Jake Gyllenhaal is. Starlee and David would later co-create an entirely different podcast, ''Podcast/ElectionProfitMakers''.
* Twice in the Gemini arc of ''Podcast/{{Sequinox}}''. In the [[spoiler: Star Invasion]] world, the girls spot foot soldiers from stars that they'd yet to fight. In the Sitcom world they also see the stars themselves, but since it's only in a title sequence they go too fast to get any details on them.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
* ''Series/SesameStreet'':
** The titular character of ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold'' actually first appeared in a stop-motion skit featured in ''Sesame Street''.
** Cookie Monster actually made his first appearance in a skit featured in ''Series/TheEdSullivanShow'' (which itself was based on an old instructional film by IBM), where he is shown taking a machine apart piece-by-piece and eating it, only to realize that doing so will cause the machine to self-destruct within his body, causing him to explode. And for some reason, this version of Cookie Monster has fangs, while the one in ''Sesame Street'' does not. This version is also green instead of blue.
*** Grover firstappeared in another ''Ed Sullivan Show'' sketch as one of the evil monsters who wants to steal Santa Claus' toys.
* ''Series/TheMuppetShow'': the episode guest-starring Creator/MarkHamill as [[Franchise/StarWars Luke Skywalker]] aired three months before the premiere of ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'', and was the first time Luke [[https://screenrant.com/star-wars-muppet-show-episode-mark-hamill-response/ wore the Bespin uniform]] that he would wear in the film.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Roleplay]]
* In ''Roleplay/DawnOfANewAgeOldportBlues'', Finn briefly mentions the Vice President of the Chess Club before the MassSuperEmpoweringEvent hits the school. The next day, the Vice President is revealed to be Ivan, another main character who also gained powers from said event.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* ''Webcomic/SailorMoonCS'':
** Minako can be seen briefly in issue 4.
** A Miss Meioh appears in issue 2.
** [[spoiler:The rainbow crystals and associated youma appear earlier than they did in the anime.]]
* Early in ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', John reads a dubiously educational programming textbook called "Data Structures [[ParodiesForDummies For Assholes]]", written in an extremely abusive style by someone called Buckminster Funnyuncle. Later in the comic, Karkat Vantas, a popular character with an interest in programming and a "virtually identical" writing style was introduced - Funnyuncle even talks about 'wriggling about in viscous secretions', which fits Karkat's BizarreAlienBiology theme perfectly. When Karkat first appeared, a few fans theorised he was Funnyuncle. In the ''Homestuck'' [[WebcomicPrintCollection Books]], while the story was not edited directly in keeping with Creator/AndrewHussie's WritingByTheSeatOfYourPants policy, the commentary asks the reader to "[[AscendedFanon Just imagine all the text in the book]] [[RetCon is capitalized]], [[WhyDidntIThinkOfThat and that it was written by Karkat]]".
* In ''Webcomic/KuroShouri'', Kakon has several short appearances in early chapters, but joins the main cast much later on.
* ''Webcomic/{{Narbonic}}'': Caliborn makes an early appearance about six months into the strip during one of the "[[Comicstrip/LittleNemo Dave In Slumberland]]" segments as an unnamed demon.
* ''Webcomic/EvilPlan'' featured a [[http://evilplan.thewebcomic.com/comics/1590620/chapter-9-page-8-drinking-without-you/ sneak peak of Amical and Billy]] from ''Webcomic/{{morphE}}'', 6 months before [=morphE=] was launched. Evil Plan's creator is sprite artist for the [=morphE=] webcomic and it was in design phase when this page of EP was published.
* ''Webcomic/TheSanityCircus'': During one of the {{Fourth Wall Mail Slot}}s, as Luther the violin answers a question about his fellow Instrumen Steven the flute can be seen silhouetted in the background.
* ''WebComic/StandStillStaySilent'': When showing Trond getting recruited at his retirement party in a flashback, one of the party's guests, of whom only the lower part of the face and upper body is shown, is shown wishing Trond a happy retirement. Once main character Sigrun Eide is introduced, it becomes quite obvious that the guest in question was actually her.
* In ''Webcomic/KillSixBillionDemons'', 000001 has a brief appearance at the [[https://killsixbilliondemons.com/comic/concordance-of-the-demiurges/ Concordance of the Demiurges]], where Mottom dismisses her as a "paper-pusher" for her GodEmperor Mammon. In her next appearance, she turns out to be Mammon's DragonInChief, capable of [[spoiler:facing Mottom in battle]] with a gigantic [[AnAxeToGrind axe made of fire]].
* In ''Webcomic/MenageA3'', [[BuxomIsBetter one of the many passer-bys who are impressed by [=DiDi=]'s assets]] shows obvious ACupAngst in the first panel [[http://www.menagea3.net/d/20090926.html here]]. She returns as a psych student who thinks she can treat [[DoesNotLikeMen Yuki's problems]]. The author uses a BrickJoke to establish that she's the same person. When first we [[http://www.menagea3.net/d/20100527.html see her again]], she's reading a pamphlet about breast enlargement.
* ''Webcomic/{{Shortpacked}}'':
** In one strip, a nameless woman working at a supermarket shows up. A while later she begins dating one of the main characters and became one herself. When the author went back and titled some of his earlier strips he called the one she appeared in "She'll Show Up More Later".
** Lucy originally appeared as an unnamed girl in a non-canon strip making fun of the ''Comicbook/New52.''
* ''Webcomic/ApricotCookies'': Both Moonlight Spritzer (introduced in chapter 3) and Princess Almond (introduced in chapter 5) can be seen in chapter 1 as figurines/keychains on Apricot's nightstand.
* ''Webcomic/WildeLife'' has a fair few. For example, [[TheProtagonist Oscar]] and [[{{Deuteragonist}} Cliff]] [[http://www.wildelifecomic.com/comic/7 barely avoid meeting a chapter early]], with a bonus Kevin cameo.
* ''Webcomic/RustyAndCo'': An unnamed cleric seen briefly in one panel at the end of level 7 turns out to be Derek Hyssop (aka "Derek the cleric"), who was previously mentioned by Madeline and plays an important role in the next story arc.
* ''Webcomic/WeakHero'':
** In Episode 91, Ben visits the hospital to get a check-up for his arm. While he's leaving, a boy called Kenny is rolled into the doctor's office in the background. It's not until ten episodes later that Kenny is revealed to be [[TheDragon Jake's]] brother and shows up in the story proper.
** Jake mentions in passing that his friend Eunchan was suspended from school long before Eunchan shows up in the flesh.
* ''Webcomic/{{Outsider}}'': The [[SpaceElves Loroi]] pilots Talon and Spiral, and another officer named Cloud, are first seen in passing [[https://www.well-of-souls.com/outsider/outsider041.html in #41]]. Talon doesn't reappear until [[https://www.well-of-souls.com/outsider/outsider111.html #111]], when she's tasked with showing Jardin some star charts. Spiral appears shortly thereafter in [[https://www.well-of-souls.com/outsider/outsider113.html #113]]. Cloud is in a handful of panels as a background character, but isn't actually introduced to Jardin until [[https://www.well-of-souls.com/outsider/outsider162.html #162]] as part of Spiral leading the other Loroi on the shuttle who haven't been formally introduced to Jardin to do so.
[[/folder]]

* ''Webcomic/{{Outsider}}'': The pilots Talon and Spiral, and another officer named Cloud, are first seen in passing [[https://www.well-of-souls.com/outsider/outsider041.html in #41]]. Talon doesn't reappear until [[https://www.well-of-souls.com/outsider/outsider111.html #111]], when she's tasked with showing Jardin some star charts. Spiral appears shortly thereafter in [[https://www.well-of-souls.com/outsider/outsider113.html #113]]. Cloud is in a handful of panels as a background character, but isn't actually introduced to Jardin until [[https://www.well-of-souls.com/outsider/outsider162.html #162]] as part of Spiral leading the other Loroi on the shuttle who haven't been formally introduced to Jardin to do so.

* ''WesternAnimation/WallE'' appears for a brief moment driving the lunar transport vehicle in the ''WesternAnimation/{{Ratatouille}}'' follow-up short "Your Friend The Rat".

* Three examples from Ride/DisneyThemeParks. ''WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty's Castle'' was opened in Disneyland several years before the movie. ''It's Tough To Be A Bug'', starring Flik and featuring Hopper, was introduced at the Animal Kingdom several months before ''WesternAnimation/ABugsLife'' opened. Finally, ''Countdown to Extinction'' featured Aladar and a Carnotaurus about two years before ''WesternAnimation/{{Dinosaur}}'' premiered, at which point the attraction was renamed after the movie.

** In the ''ComicBook/New52'', Arthur Light initially appears as an A.R.G.U.S. scientist in ''Franchise/{{Justice League|OfAmerica}}'', and doesn't acquire his Dr. Light powers until the Trinity War crossover that kicks off ''Comicbook/ForeverEvil''.

->''"[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic]]'s first appearance was a cameo in the 1991 arcade racing game ''Rad Mobile''. You can see him dangling near the top of the windshield."''