Line #16 Main/WelcomeTitles


1	An easy way to introduce TheProtagonist and their relationship with the rest of the cast as early as the TitleSequence is to have them walk around and encounter everyone else in their way. Alternatively, it's the camera doing this after starting with the lead character. It establishes hierarchies in terms of plot importance or groups the characters by location. Depending on how detailed is the background, it can also be used to showcase some elements of the work's setting.
2
3	Fairly common in {{animation}}, but rare otherwise, probably due to the cost of creating such footage. Might overlap with AutomobileOpening, where the character explores the setting while driving a vehicle; with DancingTheme, if the character dances along the way; or with CreditsRunningSequence, if it's running.
4
5	SuperTrope of OpeningCreditsCastParty, in which the whole cast is shown together throwing a party during the title sequence. Compare and contrast IntroductoryOpeningCredits, when the characters' names are displayed, and ThemeTuneRollCall, when the theme tune roll calls the cast.
6
7	Not to be confused with WelcomeEpisode, when a single new member comes into an established group.
8	----
9	!!Examples:
10
11	[[AC:Anime & Manga]]
12	* ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'': The Joint Training Arc's opening starts with TheProtagonist Izuku running to meet his classmates, followed by various shots of all members of Class 1-A preparing and stretching for their mock battle training. The teams they'll be divided into are shown grouped together, from a {{pan}}ning to a TeamPowerWalk. The camera then shifts to focus on the teachers--showing Vlad King and Eraserhead's contrasting personalities, Midnight's goofier, more easy-going one, and All Might's hesitant but proud disposition. We then get to see Shinsou walking alone, an EstablishingTeamShot of Class 1-B, Class 1-A (again) attacking, One for All's vestiges greeting Izuku, Hawks plus Endeavor in a split-screen shot (they'll work together in this arc), and Mirio looking after Eri.
13	%%* ''Manga/NagasareteAirantou''
14	* ''Anime/{{Naruto}}'':
15	** The anime's first opening starts with an introduction to Team 7's dynamics. TheProtagonist Naruto's exuberant personality is shown by him performing a stunt on a roof. He lands in front of TheLancer Sasuke and TheHeart Sakura, who look amiably at him and respectively hold a BadassArmFold and a CoyGirlishFlirtPose. Then, Kakashi appears walking on some street wires. After some individual shots, the scene changes to the team effectively fighting a small army of thugs, displaying not only their ninja abilities but also the fact that Kakashi is protective of his students (he carries Sakura to safety) and that Sasuke and Naruto are best friends (the two bump fists after the battle). It's a {{downplayed example as Team 7's actual dynamic is less than functional most of the time. Furthermore, the opening excludes half of the arc's cast (Zabuza, Haku, Iruka, the Hokage, Mizuki, Ichiraku, and Ayumi).
16	** After mandatorily introducing Team 7, the Chunin Exams Arc's opening briefly goes through the other relevant participating teams, the senseis plus other assorted Konoha staff, and Kabuto. It serves to establish some of the other genin's skills and personalities.
17	* ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf''
18	** The second season of the AnimatedAdaptation had a brief segment after the AnimeThemeSong titles introducing the main characters.
19	** Several of the later {{OVA}} episodes began with a song called "Where Do We Go From Here", during which the various cast members were shown around the neighborhood and/or on their way to school.
20
21	[[AC:Live-Action TV]]
22	%%* ''Series/BearInTheBigBlueHouse''
23	%%* ''Series/{{Coupling}}'' (US version)
24	* ''Franchise/{{Degrassi}}'':
25	** ''Series/DegrassiTheNextGeneration'': In seasons one to five and eight to twelve, the camera moves around the school to show the regulars in their natural environments.
26	** ''Series/DegrassiNextClass'': It has a shorter version with pictures and videos from the regulars' social media flying by to show them hanging out with their friends.
27	* ''Series/EverybodyLovesRaymond'': The family is introduced while passing by on a conveyor belt for a while.
28	* ''Series/KingOfKensington'': The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OF6ITiFtelk opening]] features shop-owner Larry King walking through the eponymous Toronto market neighborhood, schmoozing and holding court with other residents.
29	%%* ''Series/TheLetsGoShow''
30	%%* ''Series/TheSunnySideUpShow''
31	%%* ''Series/SproutHouse''
32	%%* ''Series/SproutsWigglyWaffle''
33	* ''Series/TVFunhouse'': The theme song is animated the same way as the animated segments scattered throughout the show.
34
35	[[AC:Puppet Shows]]
36	* ''Series/TreintaYUnMinutos'': The title sequence starts with Tulio commuting to work. Once he arrives at the news station, he interacts with some of his co-workers. Other reporters are introduced with them presenting the news. The technicians are shown doing their work and preparing the set.
37	%%* ''Series/FraggleRock''
38	* ''Series/{{Nanalan}}'': The title sequence explains the premise of the show pretty well. Mona gets up, gets cleaned up, eats breakfast, her mother drops her off at Nana's, and Mona then goes out to the backyard to play.
39	* ''Series/TheNoddyShop'': The show's intro is a tour around the shop, where the camera focuses on the places where we see various characters. In order, we see a view of the shop, then Warloworth popping out of a jack in the box, then the characters by a train set, then Johnny in his aquarium, then Noddy and Planet Pup, then Gertie near the goblins in a dollhouse, then Island Princess, then a close-up of the babies and the group singing together.
40	%%* ''Series/SesameStreet''
41	* ''Series/TodaysSpecial'': They take us through the store to meet all the major characters.
42
43	[[AC:Pro Wrestling]]
44	* ''Wrestling/{{WWERAW}}'': Some of the title sequences have Steve Austing walking through a disused factory on fire in which the supporting cast is fighting each other.
45
46	[[AC:Western Animation]]
47	* ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresFromTheBookOfVirtues'': The intro combines StockFootage of each kid discovering Plato's Peak from the earliest episodes.
48	* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'': The intro zooms through different parts of Ooo, passing several characters along the way: Finn, Jake, the princesses, Marceline, and the Ice King.
49	* ''WesternAnimation/TheAvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'': The first season's intro shows the founding Avengers assembling to save New York City from HYDRA forces. The second season's intro, in contrast, uses a mix of original and recycled footage.
50	* ''WesternAnimation/FostersHomeForImaginaryFriends'': During the title sequence, the camera jumps through all of Foster's Home's windows because it's following Mac going upstairs and meeting the main cast. The number of windows increases as someone new tags along until there are too many of them and we get only two windows --the staff peeking from one window and everyone else running in another. It ends when they get to a sad Bloo, Mac's presence cheering him up.
51	* ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'': The openings tend to use this, except for the series that animate the Transformers in {{CGI}}.
52	%%* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''
53	%%* ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManAndHisAmazingFriends''
54	%%* ''WesternAnimation/SproutDiner''
55	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Twipsy}}'': The intro takes place first in cyberspace, where some viruses are doing a mess. After Twipsy gets rid of them and speeds along the superhighway, the scenery changes to the real world. There, we meet Nick's parents outside his house and then we see Nick fighting over a keyboard with his sister Lissy and his friend Albert. Finally, Lissy's drink spills over the dog.
56	* ''WesternAnimation/WinxClub'': Every season's opening introduces the girls, their boyfriends, and the current villains. From the first to the third season, this is done by adding a clipped figurine of the Winx and the Trix after showing some StockFootage of them doing stuff. The boyfriends and the other villains are shown in recycled shots. From the fourth season onward, the Winx and their boyfriends are on a line and the camera glides over them until it stares up at the sky. The Trix and other villains just get Stock Footage of them laughing or committing evil deeds.
57	* ''WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries'': Each episode of the first four seasons begins with the X-Men demonstrating their powers while their codenames appear onscreen, then fighting various villains.

Context Main / WelcomeTitles