->''"This is the tale I pray the divine Muse to unfold to us. Begin it, goddess, at whatever point you will."''
-->-- ''Literature/TheOdyssey''

Methods of starting up an episode or an entire series.

Contrast EndingTropes.
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!!Tropes:

[floatboxright: Categories:
+ CallToAdventure
+ CharacterIntroductionIndex
+ {{Herald}}
+ JustForFun/HowToGatherCharacters
+ PilotEpisodeTropes
]

[[index]]
* ActionPrologue: Something exciting happens before the story begins.
* AfterTheEnd: The story takes place in an apocalyptic setting.
* AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs: The villains take over the hero's lair.
* AweInspiringDinosaurShot: A work focusing on dinosaurs is introduced by showing how grand and epic these prehistoric animals were during their time, with specific camera shots being used to underscore the effect.
* BatmanColdOpen: The episode begins with the heroes dealing with a threat that isn't connected to the main episode's plot.
* BigFirstChoice: An early decision has massive impact on the entire rest of the story.
* BirthdayBeginning: The story begins with the announcement that it's the main character's birthday, and often it's the day they reach adulthood.
* {{Bookends}}: The beginning and ending of a story occur under similar circumstances and are tied together somehow.
* BoyMeetsGirl: A boy and a girl meet, lose each other, then find each other again.
* BlitzEvacuees: A child protagonist is evacuated from a city under attack and is sent to live in the country.
* ChillyReception: Characters mistreat a newcomer.
* ClosedCircle: No way to get out. No way to get help. You're on your own.
* DangerRoomColdOpen: The episode starts with the characters in a combat training room.
* DayInTheLifeTitles: The title sequence shows the main characters going out and about in their everyday lives.
* DebutQueue: The main characters are gradually brought together by introducing each cast member one at a time across the following episodes.
* DistantPrologue: A short introduction scene at the start of the story that takes place a long time before the main plot happens.
* DoomedHometown: The destruction of the hero's hometown is what stirs them into the adventure.
* DownerBeginning: The story begins tragically.
* DramaticChaseOpening: The story begins with a dramatic chase scene.
* DreamIntro: The story begins with a character's dream sequence.
* DroppedAfterThePilot: A character featured in the first episode is absent for the rest of the series.
* EarlyBirdCameo: A character makes a brief appearance before being properly introduced.
* EasingIntoTheAdventure: A prologue that covers the protagonist's ordinary life before going on the adventure.
* EnthusiasticNewbieTeacher: A friendly teacher who is just out of schooling.
* EntryPoint: The player's way into an AlternateRealityGame.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: The first thing a character says or does that makes it clear the kind of person they are.
* EstablishingSeriesMoment: The one moment that represents what the whole series will be about.
* EveryoneMeetsEveryone: The first episode has the main cast meet each other for the first time.
* FakeActionPrologue: The story starts out with what appears to be an action scene, but it turns out to be fake.
* FakeOutOpening: The first scene of a movie that's different from the rest of the film.
* FallInAngel: A girl falling from the sky is what kickstarts the plot.
* FallingIntoThePlot: The protagonist falls from the sky at the start of a work.
* FirstEpisodeResurrection: The hero dies and is brought back to life at the beginning of the story.
* FirstEpisodeTwist: A plot twist is revealed very early on in the story.
* FiveEpisodePilot: A television series begins with a MultiPartEpisode.
* ForGreatJustice: The motive or reason is stated in the opening.
* FramingDevice: A story being told in the main plot of a work.
** ForgottenFramingDevice: The story within another story is missing the latter half of its outer frame.
* FromNewYorkToNowhere: A character moves from a big city to a small town.
* FromZeroToHero: A character starts off as a nobody, but moves up in the world through their heroism.
* GoodMorningCrono: The story begins with the main character being woken up.
* HappyEndingOverride: A sequel starts by undoing the happy ending of a previous installment.
* HiddenFirstActParallel: A story element near the beginning of a story contains a parallel to its framing device or a later plot point.
* AHeroIsBorn: The story begins with the hero's birth or infancy.
* HowWeGotHere: The story begins partway through the plot and then starts to explain how things got to that point.
* TheIdolsBlessing: Incompetent main character receives a boon from their idol, thus beginning their journey.
* IFoundYouLikeThis: A character who has passed out from injury wakes up in the care of someone treating them.
* InMediasRes: The story starts in the middle rather than the beginning.
* IncitingIncident: An event that sets the plot in motion.
* IntroductoryOpeningCredits: Credits in a show's opening sequence that display the characters with their names beside them.
* IntroOnlyPointOfView: The opening of a story that is told from a characters point of view.
* ItBeganWithATwistOfFate: The protagonist's involvement in a story's events results from a simple decision.
* ItWasADarkAndStormyNight: The story begins on a dark and stormy night.
* LastDayOfNormalcy: The audience is shown the heroes in their home setting before their normal lives are changed forever
* LogicalLatecomer: The new guy who points out the weirdness that everyone else ignores or is already used to.
* LostInMediasRes: A story that starts in the middle gets no elaboration for what came before it.
* TheMagicComesBack: In a setting where magic has vanished, the magic ends up returning.
* AMinorKidroduction: A work begins with a brief scene of the protagonist as a child.
* MinskyPickup: The six note Intro Fanfare to a Song and Dance number.
* MonsterMunch: A monster is introduced by showing it killing a random, inconsequential victim.
* MorningRoutine: Introducing a character by showing what they do every morning.
* MultipleGameOpenings: The prologue changes depending on the player's choices before starting the game.
* MythPrologue: The work begins by telling a myth or other fantastical story that sets the basis for the plot.
* NaiveNewcomer: A newcomer who is inexperienced and has trouble fitting in.
* NonIndicativeFirstEpisode: The first episode is not indicative of the rest of the series' tone.
* OnceUponATime: A stock phrase that opens classic stories.
* OpenDoorOpening: The story begins with a door opening and either the character or the audience passing through.
* OpeningMonologue: The opening sequence has a monologue explaining the premise of the story.
* OpeningNarration: The opening sequence has a voice-over explaining the premise of the story.
* OpeningScroll: The opening sequence has text scroll that passes over the screen supplying information on the story.
* OutOfJobIntoThePlot: The protagonist loses their job shortly before or after the action begins.
* PanFromTheSkyBeginning: The view pans down from the sky to start off a movie or an episode.
* {{Pilot}}: An experimental "first episode" of sorts that may or may not be picked up for production of a full-fledged television series.
* PilotMovie: A feature-length film that is intended to serve as the beginning of a television series.
* PlotIncitingInfidelity: The story begins with someone learning that their spouse has cheated on them.
* PlotTriggeringDeath: A character's death at the outset of a story puts its main plot into motion.
* PoorlyDisguisedPilot: An episode is meant to serve as a pilot for a potential spinoff series.
* PostAdventureAdventure: A story is a followup to an unseen previous story.
* PreMeeting: The main character meets a random person who turns out to be someone important.
* PrideBeforeAFall: A story begins with a prideful character falling from grace.
* ProlongedPrologue: When the prologue of a story takes a long time to tell.
* PursuedProtagonist: When a work opens with someone being chased.
* RRatedOpening: The opening sequence contains mature content, letting audiences know what they're seeing is [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForKids not for kids]].
* RecruitTeenagersWithAttitude: Instead of trained adults, teenagers save the day.
* ResurrectedForAJob: A person is brought BackFromTheDead to go on a [[TheQuest quest]].
* RunningOverThePlot: The plot begins with running someone over.
* SecondEpisodeIntroduction: A prominent character in the series who takes until the second episode or installment to be introduced.
* SecondEpisodeMorning: A character has to deal with the strange events that happened in the first episode.
* SecondEpisodeSubstitute: The second episode introduces a character who serves as a replacement for a character introduced in the first episode who is now absent.
* ShipwreckStart: Protagonist is shipwrecked to start the story.
* ShowWithinAShow: A work of fiction that characters InUniverse are watching.
* StartToCorpse: The story begins with a dead body being discovered or someone being killed.
* StartsWithASuicide: The story begins with someone committing or attempting to commit suicide.
* StartsWithTheirFuneral: The story begins with a funeral before explaining how the person died.
* StepOneEscape: The initial goal is getting out of a room.
* StorybookOpening: The story begins with a storybook opening.
* StumbledIntoThePlot: The protagonist is the one who finds the IncitingIncident instead of being [[TheChosenOne chosen]] or [[SummonEverymanHero summoned]].
* SugarApocalypse: When a genuine SugarBowl suffers a horrifying disaster that destroys its peaceful innocence.
* SurvivedTheBeginning: A cast massacre opens the story, those who survive get some PlotArmor.
* TheTeaser: A scene that plays before the opening credits.
* TurnOutLikeHisFather: A character ends up becoming like their parent.
* VillainOpeningScene: The antagonist is introduced before the other main characters are.
* WarWasBeginning: The story begins with a war starting.
* WeatherReportOpening: The first words in the story are about the weather.
* WelcomeEpisode: The first episode begins with one of the main characters meeting the rest of the cast for the first time and being given information that is also beneficial for the audience.
* WhenItAllBegan: The one moment or event that caused everything else in the story to be the way it is.
* WhereIWasBornAndRazed: A character destroys their own hometown.
* WholeEpisodeFlashback: The episode has a FramingDevice where one character tells the story of what happened earlier.
* YouAllMeetInACell: Characters meet while they're all captive, and learn why they were taken captive in the first place while they escape.
* YouAllMeetInAnInn: Everyone meets when they're at the same inn.
* YouWakeUpInARoom: A character wakes up in an unfamiliar place at the beginning of the story.
* YouWakeUpOnABeach: Someone wakes up on the beach with no recollection of how they got there.
[[/index]]
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