Line #64 Main/GatewaySeries


1	->''"It starts with an innocent game of ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cake_Mania Cake Mania]]'', and soon you've bought a Platform/NintendoDS, and before you know it, BAM! You're out on the street corner, teeth chattering, waiting in line for ''[[VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft Burning Crusades]]''."''
2	-->-- ''WebAnimation/ExtraCredits'', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8ZVZRsy8N8 "Video Games and the Female Audience"]] [[note]]Daniel Floyd actually uses the term "Gateway Drug" prior to the quote.[[/note]]
3
4	A Gateway Series is a series that introduces a significant niche of viewers to a genre that is new to them, and that is a positive enough introduction for them to hunt down other examples of the genre.
5
6	{{Trope Namer\|s}}: In the drug world, a ''gateway drug'' is a drug that entices you or makes it easier to try other drugs. This name is mostly used by anti-drug programs, so there is debate about whether gateway drugs exist. But a ''gateway series'', ones that makes you start watching new genres you never used to watch, is definitely real.
7
8	Even if you don't grow too passionate about the genre after watching a Gateway Series, after a few years you'll still end up with a vast knowledge about it and maybe a big pile of [=DVDs=]. If you do become passionate, then your room may be devoted to your new addiction. It all depends on how strongly you embrace your new tastes.
9
10	Someone's personal Gateway Series will be granted immunity from criticism thanks to the NostalgiaFilter.
11
12	Gateway series often have some things in common, mostly anything that causes a good first impression, both from the series and the entire genre. Each genre has a certain pattern, so to enjoy it you have to grow accustomed to those unique quirks. Thus, many Gateway Series blend styles or cross genres together; you [[JustForFun/ComeForTheXStayForTheY are attracted to the series by quirks you already have and so get used to the new ones that way.]] Thus, Japanese Anime that has Western-style storytelling makes for good gates.
13
14	Maturity level also matters. In genres with [[AnimationAgeGhetto age ghettos]], a Gateway Series will likely double as WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForKids Or have many {{Parental Bonus}}es, such as [[DemographicDissonantCrossover characters from works for mature audiences appearing in family-friendly works]].
15
16	Deep, intricate storylines or massive loads of action are common, as well as being weird in a fun and upbeat way. Those things help you realize that this genre can have a lot of good and different stuff to offer.
17
18	Gateway Series must be good in some sense, and must not have much more {{squick}} than normally comes with the genre. Otherwise, you would be [[AudienceAlienatingPremise turned off.]] If it does work, these tend to be (though not ''always'' are) responsible for a NewbieBoom for either the overall franchise the series might be part of (especially for a LongRunner) -or- for the "genre" it's part of, the success of Anime in North America during the early-to-mid 90's for example owes a lot to this as explored below.
19
20	Compare BreakthroughHit, the gateway to a creator; StarMakingRole, the gateway to an actor; and KillerApp, the gateway to a console. Contrast ItsPopularNowItSucks. Not to be confused with the ''[[Literature/HeecheeSaga Gateway]]'' series or its [[VideoGame/{{Gateway}} video game adaptation]]. See also JustForFun/TVTropesAsAGatewayDrug.
21
22	Important note: Classifying anything as a 'gateway something' doesn't imply in any way that it is less good than the less accessible material it leads on to. All that we're saying is that for a lot of people, these examples lead on to discovering and enjoying other things. It's not a value judgement, just an observation of how fans tend to start from common points.
23	----
24	!!Subpages:
25	[[index]]
26	* GatewaySeries/AnimeAndManga
27	* GatewaySeries/{{Film}}
28	* GatewaySeries/{{Literature}}
29	* GatewaySeries/LiveActionTV
30	* GatewaySeries/{{Music}}
31	* GatewaySeries/VideoGames
32	[[/index]]
33	----
34	!!Examples
35
36	[[foldercontrol]]
37
38	[[folder:Asian Animation]]
39	* ''Manhwa/DoolyTheLittleDinosaur'' and ''Animation/LeafieAHenIntoTheWild'' for Korean animation.
40	* Chinese animation (''donghua'') tried to get exposure and interest beyond the Chinese market before, but none has truly gotten Western audiences' attention until ''Literature/TheKingsAvatar''. Aside from its quality being considered on par with Japanese {{Anime}}, the story's premise and setting of the RealLife "[[UsefulNotes/ProfessionalGaming eSports]]" scene by using a fictional MassivelyMultiplayerOnlineRolePlayingGame, yet doing away traditional {{Fantasy}} and ScienceFiction elements entirely from other animated works influenced by the genre, has been lauded by viewers.
41	* ''Literature/GrandmasterOfDemonicCultivationMoDaoZuShi's'' AnimatedAdaptation would be next series after the ''The King's Avatar'' to really draw up an audience with ''donghua'' as it meshes not just {{Wuxia}}, but introduced many fans to ''danmei''. While it's similar in concept to Japanese {{Yaoi}} since they're both BoysLove, ''danmei'' differs in how it plays the genre's usual tropes and {{Shipping}} dynamics, akin to ''The King's Avatar'' not relying on ''[[TrappedInAnotherWorld isekai]]'' and StockLightNovelHero tropes as a narrative.
42	[[/folder]]
43
44	[[folder:Comic Books]]
45	* Pick any comic book that has been [[TheMovie adapted to Hollywood blockbuster format]]. Or, pick any comic book that has an AnimatedAdaptation you used to watch when you were a child. Familiarity plays a ''very'' important role here.
46	* Or the other way around, a TV show that has been adapted into a comic book such as ''ComicBook/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''.
47	* ''ComicBook/TheSandman1989'' by Creator/NeilGaiman was many people's first exposure to UrbanFantasy, as well as introducing them to concepts like ''story-within-the-story'' and by deciphering its many references, got people interested in Creator/ItaloCalvino, Creator/JorgeLuisBorges and [[ShakespeareInFiction also told them unfamiliar parts]] of Creator/WilliamShakespeare's life, namely that he had a son named Hamnet.
48	* ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'' by Creator/AlanMoore raised the graphic novel to a level of "cultural seriousness" and it became one of the first books that many non-comic readers read in detail.
49	* ''ComicBook/{{Fables}}''
50	* ''ComicBook/ElfQuest''
51	* ''ComicBook/{{Maus}}''
52	* ''ComicBook/{{Persepolis}}''
53	* ''ComicBook/{{Preacher}}'' to Vertigo Comic Books.
54	* The original ''ComicBook/{{Runaways}}'' series often ends up being recommended to people who dislike superhero comics or are put off by a confusing nature of shared universes like Marvel, due to being relatively divorced from main Marvel continuity and twisting or rejecting many superhero cliches.
55	* There have been reports of people -- not just bronies -- getting into comics ''period'' thanks to ''ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDW''. The first issue was one of top 100 best selling comics in 2012. An all-ages comic doing this is good news for the industry! The first issue also does a good job of introducing the main characters and tone of ''[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Friendship Is Magic]]'' for anyone who hasn't actually watched the show, though you might still wonder what a "cutie mark" is.
56	* An example that's still too new to see if it'll really have this effect, but interesting regardless: the new ''[[ComicBook/MsMarvel2014 Ms. Marvel]]''. According to store owners, unprecedented levels of new customers, especially Muslim women and girls, are following the adventures of Kamala Khan. ''Ms. Marvel'' is the only comic book that does better in digital sales than the traditional floppy format, and is Marvel's best-selling digital title. The problem is, store owners and publishers are at something of a loss as to how to get these new readers actually ''through'' the gateway, because there just aren't that many funny, brightly-colored books about young girls. Still, upcoming books like ''Gotham Academy'' and revamps like November's ''Batgirl'' seem to be looking to Kamala for guidance.
57	* ''ComicBook/TheKillingJoke'' is often identified as a good gateway to Franchise/{{Batman}} comics, most famously by Tim Burton.
58	* ''ComicBook/ArchieComics'' is a gateway series into comics due to its availability (it can be bought in supermarkets and stores, unlike most American comics) and its mostly kid-friendly nature.
59	* ''ComicBook/BatmanHush'' is considered this, even by its many detractors. It features a huge number of characters, all of whom Batman will introduce to the reader, and Jim Lee's art is very mainstream in its appeal.
60	* A lot of Myth/NorseMythology enthusiasts freely admit that ComicBook/TheMightyThor was what got them interested.
61	* Part of why ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'' was so successful was because of how many new Spidey fans it drew in, more often than not leading to said fans checking out the main Spider-Man books and becoming fans of that as well.
62	[[/folder]]
63
64	[[folder:Food and Drink]]
65	* Starbucks has gotten a lot of Americans into gourmet coffee and espresso, even if hipsters still scoff at them. It's also where a lot of teenagers since the '90s have had their first taste of coffee due to the chain's ubiquity.
66	* Similar to Starbucks, many Canadian teenagers get their first taste of coffee from Tim Hortons, especially after growing up with eating Timbits and other baked goods.
67	* Sushi is a gateway into Japanese cuisine for most Westerners. It and ramen are often the only Japanese foods westerners know about.
68	* While Blue Moon may not actually be a craft beer (it's manufactured by [=MillerCoors=]), it's commonly attributed as the beer that inspires drinkers to seek out those craft beers.
69	[[/folder]]
70
71	[[folder:Furry Fandom]]
72	As one of the larger general media fandoms, furs do have their own share of gateway series for many members of the fandom for varying reasons. For more see PopularWithFurries. Some of the main gateways are animated television series such as:
73	* ''The Amazing 3'': The main characters are aliens disguised as a rabbit, a horse, and a duck
74	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'' (especially the Minerva Mink shorts)
75	* ''WesternAnimation/ChipNDaleRescueRangers'' -- particularly Gadget Hackwrench
76	* ''Manga/KimbaTheWhiteLion''
77	* ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes''
78	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''
79	* ''WesternAnimation/ThunderCats''
80	* ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures''-- Fifi Le Fume in particular
81	* ''WesternAnimation/StarTrekTheAnimatedSeries'' -- Lt. M'Ress in particular
82	* ''WesternAnimation/JosieAndThePussycats'' from the early [[TheSeventies 70s]]
83	* ''WesternAnimation/SwatKats''
84	* ''WesternAnimation/HeathcliffAndTheCatillacCats'' -- Cleo and Wordsworth in particular
85	* ''WesternAnimation/RoadRovers'' -- Colleen in particular
86	* ''WesternAnimation/TheGetAlongGang'' -- Dotty Dog and [[SweetSheep Woolma Lamb]] in particular
87	* ''WesternAnimation/DragonTales'' -- for the "scalie" section of the furry fandom
88	* ''WesternAnimation/TheRaccoons''
89	* ''WesternAnimation/BlinkyBill''
90	* ''WesternAnimation/SagwaTheChineseSiameseCat''
91	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Franklin}}'' -- for a portion of the newer generation of furries
92
93	Then there are feature films that act as gateways:
94	* ''WesternAnimation/RobinHood1973'' - the Disney ''Robin Hood'' is credited with starting the Furry Fandom to begin with.
95	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSecretOfNIMH''
96	* ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994''
97	* ''Franchise/KungFuPanda''
98	* ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy2014'' -- Specifically, Rocket Raccoon
99	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Zootopia}}''
100	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Animalympics}}''
101	* ''WesternAnimation/TheLandBeforeTime'' -- especially for the "scalie" section of the fandom
102	* ''Franchise/{{Madagascar}}''
103
104	And literature:
105	* ''Literature/TheAnimalsOfFarthingWood''
106	* ''Literature/{{Redwall}}''
107	* ''Literature/WatershipDown''
108	* ''Literature/WarriorCats''. ''Warrior Cats'' is also gateway series into becoming an animal-centric artist, or just an artist period. FurriesAreEasierToDraw applies and then some. The characters are all cats, minus one badger character and a few minor villains. Unlike dogs, cats usually look a lot alike (and there are no purebreds, meaning very few characters are "unusual" looking like Persians or Sphynxs), so it's easy to use OnlySixFaces and {{Palette Swap}}s. This makes newer artists fond of drawing ''Warriors'' characters.
109
110	%%And a lot of webcomics
111	%%
112	And several video games:
113	* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' (though applies across '''all''' media)
114	* ''Franchise/CrashBandicoot''
115	* ''Franchise/SpyroTheDragon''
116	* ''Franchise/StarFox''
117	* ''VideoGame/SlyCooper''
118	* ''VideoGame/BanjoKazooie''
119	* ''VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay''
120	* The ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' franchise, mainly for the anthropomorphic characters like Bowser, Yoshi, etc.
121	* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}''
122	* ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys'', for the various animatronic animals
123	* ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing''
124	* ''VideoGame/ToontownOnline''
125	* ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'', especially with the [[IntelligentGerbil Beast Pack]] from ''VideoGame/KirbyAndTheForgottenLand''
126
127	And assorted other franchises:
128	* ''Franchise/AlvinAndTheChipmunks''
129	* ''Franchise/CareBears''
130	* ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}''
131	* ''Creator/ChuckECheese'' -- Like FNAF above, for the animatronic animals.
132	[[/folder]]
133
134	[[folder:New Media]]
135	* [[Website/TVTropes Look no further than the very website which you happen to be browsing]] at this [[JustForFun/TVTropesWillRuinYourLife (probably) late hour.]] How many books, TV shows, etc. were ''you'' blissfully unaware of before coming here but [[JustForFun/TVTropesAsAGatewayDrug now have a sudden unrequited urge to experience?]]
136	* YouTubePoop introduces many younger people who weren't able to watch them when they first aired to cartoon adaptations of popular video games such as ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'', to the ''Philips CD-i'' as well as Advertising/{{Volvic}} mineral water, ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' and since the rise of the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwoOWTABYbk #71519 fad]] to ''WesternAnimation/TheCritic''.
137	* [[FanVid AMVs and fanvids]] in general.
138	* [[WebVideo/TheSpoonyExperiment The Spoony One]], and his review of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'' in particular, introduced a lot of people who came in late to internet reviewers, and specifically the critics on Website/ChannelAwesome. (Given the amount the reviewers cameo in each other's videos, someone who starts with one will soon be aware of most of the main cast.)
139	* If you didn't get into Franchise/TheSlenderManMythos through WebVideo/MarbleHornets, you probably got into it through Creepypasta or the PC game.
140	* WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd is seen by many as arguably the most important video game critic of all time, blazing a trail for the whole medium of online reviews to enter the mainstream. Don't even get us started on the [[ColbertBump publicity]] he's given to all of the obscure games he's covered.
141	* [[VirtualYoutuber Virtual YouTubers]] received a massive spike in publicity around 2020, especially in the west, following a few major acts:
142	** {{WebAnimation/hololive}}'s English branch catapulted [=Vtubers=] as a concept from "that weird LetsPlay fad from Japan" to a massive trend for Anglophones, featuring not just popular streamers, but collaborations tying them to the preexisting Japanese and Indonesian branches. In many ways, this led to massively increased curiosity of cultural exchange through livestreaming, with western audiences developing more interest in clipping and translating streamers of different cultures, and many of those cultures returning the favor in covering increasingly popular western [=VTuber=] content.
143	** On a smaller, but still significant scale was the early popularity of WebVideo/VOMSProject, specifically Amano Pikamee, one of the first bilingual [=VTubers=] (Japanese native, fluent in English) to become popular among audiences of both languages. In addition to helping carry more of [=VTubing=] beyond Japan, VOMS features a loose, indie-style structure compared to the likes of hololive and WebAnimation/{{Nijisanji}} (which are run by full-blown talent agencies), with its popularity also inspiring the viability of independent [=VTubers=].
144	[[/folder]]
145
146	[[folder:Newspaper Comics]]
147	* ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' is a gateway to many people's love of newspaper comics, and sometimes even to the ones that influenced it.
148	* ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'', one of ''Calvin and Hobbes'''s influences, likewise serves as an ideal gateway series for fans of newspaper comics.
149	[[/folder]]
150
151	[[folder:Pinball]]
152	* ''Pinball/SpaceShuttle'' revitalized pinball in the 1980s with a very simple gimmick: A scale model of a NASA space shuttle. Once people were drawn to the machine because of the scale model, they enjoyed the approachable gameplay and clear objectives. The success of ''Space Shuttle'' encouraged operators to buy more pinball machines and increased sales of pinball all around for the next decade.
153	* The pinball machine themed on ''Pinball/SouthPark'' (the physical one built by Creator/{{SEGA}}, not the digital ones from Zen Studios) is an unusual case in that it attracts people who would have never otherwise touched pinball, with its very simple and straightforward layout in an age when other pinball machines can easily be overwhelming to a normal person, but has a pretty small effect on introducing these players to other pinball machines (most likely because of the outrageous prices these machines sell for limiting player's access to them). For operators, however, ''because'' it's so easy for a beginner to understand it, ''South Park'' earns good money in public, which allows other pinball machines nearby to earn more too. Hence, ''South Park'' can be seen as a gateway for operators to put pinball in various establishments, and as a result, a ''South Park'' machine is rarely found alone in public.
154	[[/folder]]
155
156	[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
157	* Wrestling/TheRoadWarriors Hawk and Animal teaming with Wrestling/GenichiroTenryu and Wrestling/KensukeSasaki is what lead many fans in the United States to become fans of Wrestling/AllJapanProWrestling and Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling.
158	* If you're a wrestling fan under 30, with very few exceptions,[[note]]The Japanese and Mexican scenes being the biggest[[/note]] you started out watching [[Wrestling/{{WWE}} WWF]] or Wrestling/{{WCW}}. As well, chances are you still watch WWE.
159	[[/folder]]
160
161	[[folder:Radio]]
162	* The hobby of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shortwave_listening shortwave listening]] or [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MW_DX AM DXing]] can eventually lead to the hobby of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio ham radio operating.]] It can work the other way around, too.
163	[[/folder]]
164
165	[[folder:Software]]
166	* Mandriva Linux and Ubuntu are meant to be easy-to-set-up, easy-to-use gateways into the world of Linux, as reflected in Ubuntu's slogan, "Linux for human beings", and with people often switching to more complex distros such as Red Hat, Fedora or [=openSUSE=], and some of them later graduating to technical distros such as Debian, Gentoo, Slackware, Arch, or even leaving Linux and switching to [=BSD=] or [=OpenSolaris=].
167	* Either Java, Python or C and some of its successors (C++ and C#) are considered some of the main gateways to learning programming in general due to their accessibility and versatility in different fields. On older computers, BASIC served this purpose since it was included on so many personal computers.
168	* If you have taken a web design class, chances are that you've familiarized yourself with HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language)
169	* The {{VideoGame/Petz}} series is surprisingly commonly cited as a gateway for young and older players alike to learn the basics of [[GameMod game modding]] and Hex Editors, due in part to the fledgling "Hexie" community the game got where players reverse-engineered the game's pseudo-3D models to create unique pets from scratch.
170	[[/folder]]
171
172	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
173	* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' Fourth Edition in particular has been rather successful at being friendly to new players.
174	** New editions of ''D&D'' in general seem to do this. Much the same thing happened when 3rd Edition came out, and the gaming scene in general saw a big boost in the wake of the open-content d20 System.
175	*** With a few exceptions; Jonny-Come-Latelies joining at the height of 3.5 (Or now since 4th edition groups are rather rare) would probably find themselves ''swarmed'' with dozens upon ''dozens'' (if not even a hundred or more) of the various kinds of books, including but not limited to the player's handbook, monster manual, magical items, expansion books, class-detail books (Like ''Complete Divine''), update books, and more.
176	** Has also been used [[ItsPopularNowItSucks negatively]] by gamers in reference to D&D. Some gamers, for instance, feel that ''D&D'' is a shallower and less "worthy" part of the tabletop gaming industry and that it's so popular ''only'' because it's so easy to get into.
177	** Players and fans of 3.5 have now have its SpiritualSuccessor, Paizo's TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}
178	* ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade'' of the ''TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness'' has been a more recent gateway game.
179	** In particular, its simplicity compared to ''D&D'' and its modern horror setting has meant that it's attractive to a lot of people who otherwise might not be interested in role playing. It also is pretty much focused on letting the players be anti-heroes (or outright bad guys) which is definitely more attractive to angsty teens.
180	* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'':
181	** The main game is often a gateway to TabletopGames as a whole. You start with 40k after coming across it as a teen, then after a few years you might move along and start playing a spin-off game or even ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}''. If you play at a multi-gaming club, you'll probably end up at the very least being interested in those systems as well and there's no telling just how many you might get into.
182	** After the relaunch of several Specialist games, many of them became gateway series to the main 40k game and its Age of Sigmar counterpart. Kill Team, Blood Bowl and Underworlds brought in many players to the main game systems; Kill Team and Underworlds providing you a small squad as a stepping stone to collecting a proper army for 40k or Age of Sigmar (respectively) while Blood Bowl, due to its wackiness and marketing with the video game, brought in many video gamers who were curious about the tabletop game.
183	* Board games such as ''[=HeroQuest=]'' often serve as a gateway to Tabletop RPG gaming.
184	* ''TabletopGame/TunnelsAndTrolls'' was explicitly designed as a simpler, easier-to-play clone of ''D&D'', in an attempt to bring in new gamers. It never did achieve the popularity of ''D&D'', but there is a sizable group of tabletop gamers that cut their teeth on ''T&T''.
185	* Western Computer [=RPGs=], like ''VideoGame/BaldursGate'' or ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'', particularly ones based on an existing system like ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' or ''TabletopGame/TheDarkEye'', often result in players making the leap from video games to tabletop games.
186	* The ''Literature/ChooseYourOwnAdventure'', ''Literature/FightingFantasy'' and ''Literature/LoneWolf'' books were a gateway for many roleplayers of the 80s.
187	* The ''TabletopGame/{{Pokemon}}'' and ''[[TabletopGame/YuGiOh Yu-Gi-Oh!]]'' card game led eventually to ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' for lots of players. Helped by the fact that a lot of sanctioned tournaments of the former shared venues with tournaments for the latter. Also, the huge media presence (straddling many years) and child-friendly image of both ''Pokémon'' and ''Yu-Gi-Oh'' practically guarantees that these will be the first [=CCGs=] people get into.
188	** And, in turn, a number of ''Magic'' pros who become accustomed to making high-stakes probabilistic decisions end up transitioning to poker (most notably David Williams).
189	** ''Duels of the Planeswalkers'' is another avenue for new players; specifically those in the video game world.
190	* ''TabletopGame/TheDarkEye'' is the Gateway system in German-speaking countries, despite beeing the deepest system around.
191	* ''TabletopGame/SettlersOfCatan'' is well known for getting people who thought they outgrew board games back into them.
192	[[/folder]]
193
194	[[folder:Theater]]
195	* ''Theatre/{{RENT}}'', ''Theatre/LesMiserables'', ''Theatre/AvenueQ'', and ''Theatre/{{Wicked}}'' for [[TheMusical musicals]].
196	** ''Theatre/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'' have now gained this status thanks to its [[LongRunner considerable lifespan]] on both Broadway and the West End, as well as having a movie and live DVD.
197	* Creator/CirqueDuSoleil's various shows have introduced a lot of people, particularly in North America, to the contemporary circus genre.
198	* Mozart's Singspiel ''Theatre/TheMagicFlute'' because it is often performed in the local language, has dialogue in addition to singing, a fairytale-like story and wonderful music. If you ever saw an opera as a child, odds are high that it was ''The Magic Flute''. Also, to a lesser extent, ''Theatre/TheMarriageOfFigaro''.
199	* ''Theatre/{{Hamilton}}'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi_cKLjGRNo&feature=youtu.be&sf20267658=1 In an interview for his grammy nomination]], Lin-Manuel Miranda said that he felt ''Hamilton'' had become a gateway show in two different directions: theatre fans came in without ever having had any interest in hip-hop and came out realising how great it could be and wanting to learn more, while hip-hop fans went in skeptically and came out realizing that they might've prejudged musical theatre.
200	* ''Theatre/TheNutcracker'' is universally recognized as "Baby's First Ballet", as it's almost always the first ballet any young child sees. It's also festive holiday fare that makes it attractive to non-theater-goers. Honorable mention in this category also goes to ''Theatre/SwanLake''.
201	* Fans of German musicals are most likely to have started with ''Theatre/{{Elisabeth}}'', ''Theatre/TanzDerVampire'', or ''Theatre/{{Mozart}}''.
202	* ''Theatre/{{Hamilton}}'', ''Theatre/{{Heathers}}'', ''Theatre/DearEvanHansen'', and ''Theatre/BeMoreChill'' drew in a lot of new theatre fans in the mid to late 2010s.
203	[[/folder]]
204
205	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
206	* ''Franchise/{{Danganronpa}}'' was many people's gateway drug into visual novels as a medium, with its emphasis on characterization, storytelling and the addition of its murder mystery AdventureGame gameplay serving as something to ease people transitioning from run-of-the-mill video games into an outright visual novel fandom. It's not uncommon to see people immediately tackle other visual novels like ''VisualNovel/ZeroEscape'', ''VisualNovel/DokiDokiLiteratureClub'', ''VisualNovel/KatawaShoujo'', ''VisualNovel/YourTurnToDie'', ''Franchise/WhenTheyCry'' and ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' as a result of being introduced to the medium through ''Danganronpa''.
207	* A main gateway series to {{Visual Novel}}s is arguably ''VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}}'', and in a broader sense, the ''VideoGame/MeltyBlood'' fighting game series. While some eroge can surely bring with them a great story and be classified as PornWithPlot, it usually isn't marketed or [[PornWithoutPlot seen that way]] in the West. Many a visual novel has been consumed since then, and since something as broad as Visual Novels is rather variated, rather guiding newcomers to ''VisualNovel/{{Planetarian}}'', and from there...
208	* Those that may be averse to 18+ material can be lured to ''VisualNovel/{{Ever17}}'' or ''VisualNovel/KiraKira'' (the all ages version). The former can be a gateway to other visual novels written by Creator/KotaroUchikoshi.
209	* Those with a unique taste to [[VisualNovel/TheDevilOnGString anything by]] [[VisualNovel/SharinNoKuni Looseboy]], [[VisualNovel/SayaNoUta Gen Urobuchi]], [[VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}} Kinoko]] [[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Nasu]], or [[VisualNovel/KanaLittleSister Ro]][[VisualNovel/FamilyProject meo]] [[VisualNovel/CrossChannel Tanaka]].
210	* And those looking for gameplay or humor (or both) to ''VideoGame/GalaxyAngel'' or the ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' series.
211	* ''VisualNovel/KatawaShoujo'' is one partly because it is an English-language {{Freeware}}, partly because its relation to Website/FourChan and its concept as a TragicallyDisabledLoveInterest HGame made it [[NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity somewhat famous]], and partly because it is well made. ''Katawa Shoujo'' is such a gateway that it made the '''front page''' of Website/GameFAQs as the top of the list of 10 Most Wanted Faqs.
212	* Anime series based on visual novels, such as ''VisualNovel/{{CLANNAD}}'', ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'', ''VisualNovel/SteinsGate'', and ''Franchise/WhenTheyCry'', are a common gateway into visual novels in general. Most of the [=VNs=] that do get localized have been translated after the anime series have become successful in the West.
213	* ''VisualNovel/DokiDokiLiteratureClub'', despite being a brutal, horrific deconstruction of such, has gotten many into visual novels, thanks to its popularity extending far beyond visual novel enthusiasts.
214	* ''VisualNovel/EverlastingSummer'' is a Russian visual novel that brought many people to the genre due to it being one of the most popular and well-reviewed visual novels on Steam.
215	[[/folder]]
216
217	[[folder:Webcomics]]
218	* ''Webcomic/PennyArcade'' in general is a Gateway Drug, since [[ColbertBump many of the things that Tycho links to in his blog end up getting hit by a surge of readers/viewers]]. This happened with ''[[WebVideo/DoctorHorriblesSingAlongBlog Doctor Horrible]]'', ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'', and ''Webcomic/MegaTokyo''.
219	* ''[=MegaTokyo=]'' itself is often a gateway to webcomics for anime fans.
220	* ''{{Webcomic/xkcd}}'' is also a common entry point into the world of webcomics.
221	* So is ''{{Webcomic/Homestuck}}'' as well.
222	* [[JustForFun/TVTropesAsAGatewayDrug This very wiki]], due to webcomics being a common source for page images.
223	* Korean manhwa and webtoons are not as popular as Japanese manga. When a webtoon gets popular it can cause readers to become more interested in webtoons as a whole. Examples include ''Webcomic/KillingStalking'', ''Webcomic/{{Bastard\|2014}}'', ''Webcomic/FlutteringFeelings'', ''Webcomic/WhatDoesTheFoxSay'', and ''Webcomic/NineteenTwentyOne''.
224	** The Biggest one of all, however, is ''Manhwa/SoloLeveling'', which skyrokected in popularity upon being translated for the first time, and even more so when officially released in the west outside of Korea, its second volume already reaching in the [[https://icv2.com/articles/markets/view/48998/july-2021-npd-bookscan-top-20-adult-graphic-novels top 10 of NPD's monthly graphic novel sales charts in July 2021.]]
225	[[/folder]]
226
227	[[folder:Web Video]]
228	* ''WebVideo/CriticalRole'' is widely credited with generating a huge amount of new interest in both ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' and Tabletop [=RPGs=] in general.
229	* The fan-made crossover ''WebAnimation/TurnaboutStorm'' is known for making [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Bronies]] into ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' fans, and ''Ace Attorney'' fans into Bronies.
230	[[/folder]]
231
232	[[folder:Western Animation]]
233	* Disney Animation, and perhaps WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes serve as a gateway into the widely varied world of animation.
234	* The ''Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse'' is the first faithful and high production versions of many parts of the DC Universe that had been little known or unrepresented at that point:
235	** ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' serves as the introduction of the overall Batman mythos to a lot of fans and provided many people's first glimpse of the less well-known parts of his RoguesGallery, namely Ra's Al Ghul and Scarecrow (neither of whom had appeared in movies at the time or in the Adam West show[[note]]Ra's was created in 1971, well after the show was over, and Scarecrow was too scary and dark to appear on the show, though he did appear in ''WesternAnimation/{{Superfriends}}''[[/note]]), as well as Killer Croc, Scarface and Ventriloquist, and redefined and updated the likes of Mr. Freeze to the point that it quickly became his origin in the comics and wider media.
236	** Likewise, ''Superman'', whose [[LostInImitation movies tended to not]] accept the existence of bad guys not named Luthor and Zod. ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'' served the role as the introduction of the Superman mythos for a lot of modern fans and provided many people’s first glimpses of Brainiac, Mr. Mxyzptlk, Toyman, and the Jack Kirby Fourth World and his extended cast: Dan Turpin, Intergang, Darkseid, Apokolips, New Genesis, the Mother Box, Boom Tubes and other amazing concepts.
237	** ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' served as many peoples exposure to the wider parts of the DC Universe, giving them their first introductions to ComicBook/TheFlash, ComicBook/GreenLantern, ComicBook/MartianManhunter, and Hawkgirl, among many other heroes that at the time weren't widely known, as well as antagonists like ComicBook/AmandaWaller, the Ultra-Humanite, Vandal Savage, Gorilla Grodd, and Amazo.
238	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' has undoubtedly opened the minds of many to the ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'' franchise, and it seems to have opened the door for [[PeripheryDemographic young adults, both male and female, and even little boys, to watch shows for little girls]].
239	** It has also opened the door [[FollowTheLeader for other shows with similar subject matter]]. Colorful Equine Characters, once seen as a "girl-only" thing, is no longer seen as such. ''WesternAnimation/FillyFuntasia'' seems specifically designed to go the extra mile to capitalize on this. In comparison to ''Friendship Is Magic'' which was a girl's show aiming for a general audience, ''Filly'' jumps the girl show moniker (and its [[GirlShowGhetto inherent barriers]]) entirely. Instead of a majority female cast like MLP, male pony characters are abundant and significant too.
240	* ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries'' introduced a lot of people to the Spider-Man mythos in the nineties.
241	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Metalocalypse}}'' introduced many to the metal genre, similar to the ''VideoGame/BrutalLegend'' example above (which may have been why Eddie Riggs met Dethklok in a crossover commercial).
242	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' has made many people across the world familiar with politics, counterculture, alternative music, literature, music, animated cartoons, comic strips,... they probably didn't know much about before the show referenced it. A prime example: Music/TitoPuente's cameo in the "Who Shot Mr. Burns" episodes has introduced many viewers who didn't know much about salsa or mambo to the singer.
243	* It's very possible many cartoon watchers in the early to mid 2000's got their first taste of a lot of Myth/ClassicalMythology from ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy''. Eris (Greek Goddess of Discord) and Nergal (Mesopatanian deity) are both recurring characters. Even more modern mythology shows up now and again- how many other shows of the time featured freaking ''[[Franchise/CthulhuMythos Cthulhu]]'' as a one-off antagonist?
244	* ''WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries'' was many kids' first experience with the X-Men characters and franchise (and to a lesser extent, Marvel Comics in general), and the early live-action films even took a bit of inspiration from it.
245	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'' provided many 90s kids with their first taste of DarkFantasy, UrbanFantasy, ScienceFiction, CyberPunk, and DetectiveDrama as well as mythology, history, Shakespeare, deliberate story arcs and canon, complex character motives and moralities, and {{Xanatos Gambit}}s.
246	* Series like ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'', ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'', and ''WesternAnimation/OverTheGardenWall'' are a gateway ''back'' into cartoons. Many viewers are teens and adults who abandoned (American) cartoons years ago for other more "mature" mediums, but the plot-heavy and dark themes of those cartoons attracted them back into the medium (which has not been lost on creators, which frequently try to follow in ''Gravity Falls''' footsteps and cater more to the adult demographic than to kids).
247	* ''WesternAnimation/VictorAndValentino'' is a gateway into Latin American mythology.
248	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLifeAsATeenageRobot'' can act as a gateway into science fiction. It references multiple other sci-fi works.
249	* ''WesternAnimation/ReadyJetGo'' is touted as being "a kid's first space show", serving as a kid-friendly introduction to astronomy and earth science, hoping to spark a lifelong love of the Earth and the solar system into today's kids. It can also act as a gateway into sci-fi.
250	* The 80s WesternAnimation ''WesternAnimation/SylvanianFamilies'' adaptation was the gateway to the UsefulNotes/FurryFandom for some in the west- they came for the {{Moe}} humans, but stayed for the {{Moe}} woodland animals. To a larger extent tho, it was also the gateway to collecting little plush and plastic animal families.
251	* ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'' can act as a gateway into the main ''Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}'' franchise itself.
252	* ''WesternAnimation/DanielTigersNeighborhood'' and ''Series/DonkeyHodie'' are many young viewers' first exposure to the works of Creator/FredRogers, as both utilize elements from ''Series/MisterRogersNeighborhood''.
253	* Thanks to ''WesternAnimation/LittleEinsteins'', hundreds of children were introduced to many classical composers and pieces, and grew up thinking ClassicalMusicIsCool.
254	* The 1964 Christmas special ''[[WesternAnimation/RudolphTheRedNosedReindeer Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer]]'' [[WesternAnimation/SantaClausIsCominToTown and]] [[WesternAnimation/TheYearWithoutASantaClaus a]] [[WesternAnimation/TheLittleDrummerBoy majority]] of [[ChristmasSpecial Christmas specials]] created by Creator/RankinBassProductions during the 1960s and 1970s was a big introduction to StopMotion animation for many families and children.
255	[[/folder]]

Context Main / GatewaySeries