So you're watching your favorite TV show, nothing seems unusual until a very familiar name is dropped.
Bob [=McGee=], from ''The Bob and Alice Adventures'' movie franchise? What's he doing in this random rom-com?

Character overlap is when a character in one series makes a {{crossover}} to another series. This is a casual way to tie these two shows together, and a technique used to help define a [[TheVerse 'Verse]].

Compare with CompanyCrossReferences, which encompasses other non-character references as well. See also CanonWelding. Not related to SignificantNameOverlap.

----
!!Examples:
[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* Characters from ''Manga/TheDayOfRevolution'' and ''Manga/FamilyComplex'' have roles of varying sizes in ''Manga/PrincessPrincess''. All three are written by Mikiyo Tsuda.
* ''Anime/AngelLinks'' employees Valeria Vertone and Duuz Delax Rex appear in an episode of ''Manga/OutlawStar''. Similarly, Fred Luo, Clyde, and Iris all appear at various points in ''Angel Links''.
* The Franchise/{{Nasuverse}}. See below under VideoGames.
* The Raildex. Characters in ''Literature/ACertainMagicalIndex'', ''Manga/ACertainScientificRailgun'', and ''Manga/ACertainScientificAccelerator'' cross over frequently since most of the action takes place in Academy City.
* Anything by Creator/{{CLAMP}} will have this. ''Manga/TsubasaReservoirChronicle'' took this idea and went further with it.
** Prior to ''Tsubasa'' the title characters of ''Manga/CLAMPSchoolDetectives'' were probably the worst offenders. Two of them were also the lead characters of separate series (though one only lasted a single issue) and the third was a supporting character in ''Manga/DuklyonClampSchoolDefenders''. And this is ''before'' they put in a brief appearance in ''X1999''.
* Isaac and Miria, lovable robbers from ''Literature/{{Baccano}}'', make cameos as [[spoiler:members of the Dollars]] in ''Literature/{{Durarara}}''. Since they're [[spoiler:immortal]], having them be in Durarara's time period is easy.
* Creator/KenAkamatsu reused the one-shot character Mei from ''Manga/LoveHina'' in ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi''.
* Eiji Ohtsuka's manga ''Manga/MPDPsycho'' and ''Manga/TheKurosagiCorpseDeliveryService'' both have a cop named Sasayama as a secondary character. Ohtsuka has [[WordOfGod confirmed]] that they are the same person and not just two people with a coincidental similarity of name.
* ''Manga/FruitsBasket'' creator Natsuki Takaya specifically mentioned that one of her post-''Fruba'' series would have minor cameos from some of the ''Fruba'' cast, just to make it clear they're set in the same universe.
* The anime adaptation of ''VisualNovel/{{Air}}'' contains a brief cameo of three of the primary girls from ''VisualNovel/{{Kanon}}''. Amusingly, both the Japanese and English dubs kept vocal continuity between the cameo and the show proper. Note that this cameo does not happen in the original visual novel.
* Since most of Fujio Akatsuka's works take place in and around Akatsuka Ward, characters from his series would pop in and out of each others' stories every once in a while. While ''Manga/OsomatsuKun'''s Matsuno brothers and Iyami were frequent targets of this, characters from ''Manga/TensaiBakabon'' and ''Manga/MoretsuAtaro'' often made brief cameos as well.
** The 1988 ''Osomatsu-kun'' series was this in spades, with characters like ''Bakabon''[='=]s Policeman and ''Ataro''[='=]s Nyarome being cast mainstays.
* Many of [[Creator/MochiAuLait Mochi]]'s series and one-shot works have characters, places, and settings that overlap, indicating that they're all in the same fictional universe.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* This is what helped define the official [[Franchise/MarvelUniverse Marvel]] and [[Franchise/TheDCU DC]] Universes back in the 50s and 60s.
* Obscure 1980s black-and-white comic ''Tales from the Aniverse'' featured a cat bounty hunter named Miss Chevious. Cartoonist Randy Zimmerman carried the character over into her own series, which runs in ''Flint Comix & Entertainment'' over 20 years later.
* ''ComicBook/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
** The Season 8 comic ''Time Of Your Life'' crosses over with ''ComicBook/{{Fray}}'', which takes place in the future. [[ArcWelding Buffy meets Melaka Fray]] and finds out that [[EvilSorcerer Willow is still alive and wants her dead.]] In season 9, Willow tries to keep this from happening.
** Melaka Fray also appears in the entire ''Buffy Season Twelve'' comic book series.
** Illyria from ''Series/{{Angel}}'' shows up late in season 9.
** Illyria also appears in the entire ''Buffy Season Twelve''.
* Recurring character Kathryn O'Brien from Creator/GarthEnnis's ''ComicBook/ThePunisherMAX'' is implied to be the same person as the similar character Kathryn [=McAllister=], who appeared in the final arc of his DC universe series ''ComicBook/{{Hitman}}''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* ''WebAnimation/ZanyToTheMax'' has at least one crossover per season. All the crossovers are in this style (either the Warners enter into the other series, or characters from the other series enter the ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'' world).
** Played for laughs in a parody of ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'' when Sekoila searches for a cat who has entered the Animaniacs world and misunderstands the Warners when they keep telling her about "[[spoiler:South Dakota]]" (which happens to be the name of the cat).
-->'''Yakko:''' Excuse me, Sekoila, but have you seen [[spoiler:South Dakota]]?\\
'''Sekoila:''' No, I haven't, Yakko. I've never even been there!
** Interestingly, the ''Monsters, Inc.'' parody is in the third season, which consists of ''[[ExaggeratedTrope entirely]]'' crossover episodes!
* While it's all fanfiction, ''Fanfic/JakeEnglishsMysteriousTheaterOfScientificRomanceFromTheYear3000'' has guest stars from Webcomic/DinosaurComics, ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2'', Franchise/TheDCU, Website/ChannelAwesome, ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' and ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}''. There's also an OC inspired by {{Webcomic/Cordless}}, and a Franchise/{{Nasuverse}} OC.
** This is very common in {{MST}}s featuring an original team rather than the original ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' team. Members of the crew can and do come from virtually any medium. For more examples, see the [[http://z4.invisionfree.com/Refia/index.php?act=idx Refia]] forum.
* ''Fanfic/RedFireRedPlanet'' and ''FanFic/{{Bait and Switch|STO}}'' overlap some characters with both each other and with the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' {{canon}}.
** Ba'woV, chief engineer of the IKS ''mupwI[='=]'' in ''RFRP'', is stated to have been an engineer on a freighter called the ''Shargrash'' when she first met her current husband Brokosh, a Lethean [[HiredGuns mercenary]] now in the employ of the Klingon Defense Force. The ''Shargrash'' was the freighter that the USS ''Bajor'' rescued from some Jem'Hadar in chapter five of ''B&S''.
** Ensign Kate [=McMillan=], a MauveShirt on the USS ''Bajor'' in ''B&S'', is one of the viewpoint characters of ''RFRP''.
** Will Riker and Deanna Troi from ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' also appear. Will is now a fleet admiral working at Starfleet Command, while Deanna is the head of the Diplomatic Corps. She doesn't get any lines because she's still asleep in her only scene (it being three in the morning in San Francisco when Will was called in due to an imminent Klingon attack on Sol).
* ''Fanfic/SOE2LoneHeirOfKrypton'': This story's Asuka -- who is ComicBook/PowerGirl and later ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} -- has showed up in other stories of the same author. Similarly, original characters -- and versions of the canon ones -- of his other stories have showed up in this, creating a BroadStrokes SharedUniverse.
* KhaosOmega is known to do this to a much larger degree, with numerous versions of certain characters. A massive expansion to the Rainbow Angel harem with each specific sub-group having its own limitations even allows for multiples of them to be paired with Jet, the male leader of the harem in question.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon:
** ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'' featured a cameo from Rapunzel and Eugene, taking place after ''WesternAnimation/{{Tangled}}''.
** As described in the Western Animation folder, ''WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'' took place in the same universe due to a crossover between their animated shows. Although, it is largely not considered to be canon to the original animated movies because none of the TV animated series and DisneyToon movies are.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* Jay and Silent Bob famously reappear in all six films in Film/TheViewAskewniverse -- and also pop up in ''Film/Scream3''. And some characters from different films are actually related to each other.
* Han from ''Franchise/TheFastAndTheFurious'' films is also the very same Han from ''Film/BetterLuckTomorrow'' [[WordOfGod according to]] Creator/JustinLin.
* In the first live-action ''Film/TransformersFilmSeries'' [[Film/Transformers2007 movie]] directed by Creator/MichaelBay, Travis Van Winkle plays a JerkJock named Trent [=DeMarco=]. The [[Film/FridayThe13th2009 2009 reboot]] of ''Franchise/FridayThe13th'', also produced by Michael Bay, has Travis Van Winkle play a JerkJock named Trent [=DeMarco=]. According to WordOfGod, they're the same character.
* Like the comics it's based on, the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse has several overlapping characters. Many of these are EarlyBirdCameo teases for later films. Not counting minor cameos, or the ''Avengers'' movies (and ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'') that have crossing over as a main selling point:
** Nearly every movie in Phase One has an appearance by either Nick Fury, Agent Coulson, or both. The exception is ''Film/{{The Incredible Hulk|2008}}'', where Tony Stark represents S.H.I.E.L.D. in their place. Both Fury and Coulson also show up in ''Film/{{Captain Marvel|2019}}'', after both had been absent from the films for several years.
** Black Widow first debuts as a supporting character in ''Film/IronMan2'', then later becomes a supporting character in ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier''. Minor character Senator Stern also appears in both films.
** Howard Stark, introduced in the ''Film/IronMan'' films as Tony's late father, is a supporting character in the franchise's WWII-era adventures (''Captain America'' and the ''Agent Carter'' One-Shot and series).
** A major scene in ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'' involves the arms dealer Ulysses Klaue, who later carried over into ''Film/{{Black Panther|2018}}''. This was a whole year before Black Panther himself was introduced in ''Civil War'', and almost three before the ''Black Panther'' movie itself.
** ''Film/AntMan1'' includes a flashback scene with both Peggy Carter and Howard Stark, and Ant-Man gets in a fight with [[spoiler:the Falcon]].
** A series of viral videos promoting Phase Three movies feature Christine Everhart, the reporter from the first two ''Iron Man'' films. So far she's interacted with Scott Lang from ''Ant-Man'', President Ellis from ''Iron Man 3'', and Jackson Norris (via voice-over) from the ''All Hail the King'' One-Shot.
** While ''Captain America: Civil War'' is meant from the start to be a crossover movie, the appearance of ''Hulk'' character General (now Secretary) Thaddeus Ross is notable because it's been eight years since his last appearance and because he appears when the Hulk himself does not. It also has surprisingly heavy involvement by ''Black Panther'' characters like T'Challa, T'Chaka, and Everett Ross; a good two years before ''Film/{{Black Panther|2018}}'' came out.
** Tony Stark, Happy Hogan, and [[spoiler:Pepper Potts]] from the ''Iron Man'' films appear in ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'', since Tony is mentoring Peter in this continuity. Captain America also appears in government-made school [=PSAs=] as a RunningGag.
** ''Film/ThorRagnarok'' is effectively a Thor/Hulk crossover, as both feature in the movie and it draws from comic storylines of both characters. Doctor Strange also appears for a scene.
** In addition to Fury and Coulson, ''Film/{{Captain Marvel|2019}}'' also has Ronan the Accuser and Korath the Pursuer from ''Film/{{Guardians of the Galaxy|2014}}''.
** ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'': Happy Hogan is still around, but now Nick Fury is stepping in to recruit Peter for Avenger duty; and he brings Maria Hill with him. [[spoiler:"Fury and Hill" are actually body doubles for the real ones, as played by ''different'' overlap characters; Talos and Soren from ''Captain Marvel''.]] A minor one-scene extra from the first ''Iron Man'' also returns [[spoiler:as one of the many disgruntled ex-Stark employees in Mysterio's crew]].
* ''Film/{{Ricochet}}'' is implied to take place in the same universe as ''Film/DieHard'' (with which it shares a producer and scriptwriter) due to the appearance of journalist Gail Wallens, played by Mary Ellen Trainor, in both.
* A possibly downplayed example with "The Dan Band" who appear in both ''Film/OldSchool'' and ''Film/TheHangover'' as those two films were directed by Creator/ToddPhillips.
** Phillips also {{Creator Cameo}}s in both films possibly being the same character though this has never been verified.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Franchises]]
* ''Franchise/StarWars'' [[Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse Expanded Universe]]:
** Hera Syndulla is a main character in ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels''. Due to her rank as a General in the Rebel Alliance, this has allowed her to appear in other works including a mention in ''Film/RogueOne'', a major role in the ''ComicBook/StarWarsDoctorAphra'' comics, and a main role in ''Literature/StarWarsAlphabetSquadron'' series.
** Saw Gerrera debuted in a ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'' arc, intended by WordOfGod to be followed up in the unproduced ''Star Wars Underworld'' live-action series. Instead, his plot in ''Underworld'' was {{retool}}ed into a major role in ''Film/RogueOne'', which branched off into appearances in ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'', ''Rogue One'' supporting material (including the Jyn-centric ''Literature/RebelRising'' novel), the ''Film/{{Solo}}'' novelization, and ''VideoGame/StarWarsJediFallenOrder''.
** Darth Maul, debuting in ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'', has since made major appearances in ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'' and ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'', including a minor role in ''Film/{{Solo}}'' and his own limited comic series, ''ComicBook/StarWarsDarthMaul''.
** General Hux's father, Brendol Hux, first appeared in ''Literature/ServantsOfTheEmpire'' before appearing with a major role in ''Literature/StarWarsTheAftermathTrilogy'' and ''Literature/StarWarsPhasma''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Gamebooks]]
* ''Literature/LoneWolf'' and its spin-off ''World of Lone Wolf'':
** Madin Rendalim, master Healer from Durenor, appears both in ''Grey Star the Wizard'' and ''Fire on the Water'', thus being one of the rare people having met both Lone Wolf and Grey Star.
** The Chaos-master is a villain both in ''Beyond the Nightmare Gate'' and ''The Prisoners of Time''. Grey Star has to make an uncomfortable deal with him; Lone Wolf's encounter is [[ThatOneBoss much more straightforward]].
** Acarya, the High Wizard of the Shianti, sends Grey Star on his quest, and is the one to welcome the New Order Grand Master and take the Moonstone from him.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* Several characters from Creator/LFrankBaum's lesser-known books made appearances in Oz, most notably Cap'n Bill and his ward Trot, and a boy named Button-Bright who had a talent for ending up precisely where he wanted to be despite getting lost along the way.
* Creator/AgathaChristie does this a fair bit. For example, Inspector Japp of the [[Literature/HerculePoirot Poirot]] series appears in the first Literature/TommyAndTuppence book. Poirot's secretary Miss Lemon and friend Ariadne Oliver are both old associates of [[Literature/ParkerPyneInvestigates Mr. Parker Pyne]], and Ariadne Oliver appears in ''Literature/ThePaleHorse'', which also featured the vicar's wife from the Literature/MissMarple novel ''The Moving Finger''. In ''Three Act Tragedy'', Poirot teams up with [[Literature/TheMysteriousMrQuin Mr. Satterthwaite]]. A mysterious character who is only referred to as Mr. Robinson appears with Poirot in ''Cat Among the Pigeons'', Miss Marple in ''At Bertram's Hotel'', and Tommy and Tuppence in ''Postern of Fate''; he also appears in ''Literature/PassengerToFrankfurt'', which does not feature any of Christie's series detectives.
* The character Hoid appears in all of the works of Creator/BrandonSanderson set in ''Literature/TheCosmere'' (''Literature/{{Mistborn}}'', ''Literature/{{Elantris}}'', ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'' and ''Literature/{{Warbreaker}}'') to serve various roles, such as a beggar or a storyteller.
* Many, if not all, of the books written by Creator/TedDekker are in the same continuity, as one book references characters from seemingly unrelated books.
* One of Thomas Disch's stories made a brief reference to the horrible fate of the main character in his story "The Roaches".
* Although the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' is technically one series, readers tend to group the books according to which recurring protagonist is the focus, and certain said protagonists cross over briefly into other books. (In particular, Pterry has noted that it's very hard to set a novel in Ankh-Morpork ''without'' the Watch taking an interest.)
** One WhatCouldHaveBeen moment: at one point Pterry considered that the various powers attending the Low King's coronation in ''Literature/{{Thud}}'' would include the King and Queen of Lancre. We'd know they were Verence and Magrat, but to Vimes they'd just be a couple of royals he was briefly introduced to.
* One of Creator/BretEastonEllis's signature techniques: Clay, the protagonist of ''Literature/LessThanZero'', is a minor character in ''Literature/TheRulesOfAttraction''; Patrick Bateman, a minor character in ''Literature/TheRulesOfAttraction'', is the protagonist of ''Literature/AmericanPsycho'', and so on.
* The ''Literature/HenryHuggins'' books and its SequelSeries, ''Literature/RamonaQuimby'' are set in the same neighbourhood, so they share a couple characters.
* Creator/StephenKing will often make brief references to characters and events from previous books, especially if those books took place in Castle Rock, Maine.
* In Creator/JohnMasefield's adult adventure stories that begin with ''Literature/SardHarker'' and his children's adventure stories that begin with ''Literature/TheMidnightFolk'' feature several related families (as well as the fictional land of Santa Barbara, which appears or is mentioned in both). Sard Harker, the hero of the former, and Kay Harker, the hero of the latter, are presumably related (though the precise connection is not explicitly stated), with both Harkers coming from nautical families and living in the neighborhood of the titled Crowmarsh family. Abner Brown, the villain of the Kay Harker series, first appears as a henchman to the villain of ''Sard Harker''.
* Brother Zachariah from ''Literature/TheMortalInstruments'', is [[spoiler:[[Literature/TheInfernalDevices Jem Carstairs]], who appears the way he does due to being unable to complete the entrance rituals because of the ''yin fen'' in his body]].
* Creator/KimNewman does this a lot. His ''Literature/AnnoDracula'' series, set in a world where all the vampire stories are true, and his ''Literature/DiogenesClub'' series, set in a world where pretty much every other sort of supernatural thing is true, are alternate timelines of each other and have a large overlap of regular characters. ''Literature/{{Jago}}'', one of his standalone novels published before either of those, has the first appearance of several characters and locations that went on to feature in the ''Diogenes Club'' series. ''Jago'' also shares a minor character, the corrupt police constable Barry Erskine, with another standalone novel, ''Literature/BadDreams''.
* Gino Fish appears in all three of Creator/RobertBParker's books series, ''{{Literature/Spenser}}'', ''{{Literature/Jesse Stone}}'' and ''{{Literature/Sunny Randall}}'' representing TheMafia in Boston.
* Creator/BanjoPaterson's poem "Film/TheManFromSnowyRiver" namedrops the title character of another of his works, "Clancy of the Overflow." Clancy is also given a prominent role in the movie adaptation.
** And "Harrison, who made his pile when Pardon won the cup" is presumably the narrator and placer of the victorious bet in Paterson's "Pardon, the Son of Reprieve".
* Creator/MatthewReilly had the character of Astro appear in supporting roles in his two main series, the Scarecrow books and the Jack West Jr. books. [[spoiler:Scarecrow himself later appears in a Jack West Jr. book as a main character.]]
* Frequently occurs in the ''Literature/TortallUniverse'' by Creator/TamoraPierce. In fact, it occurs in ''every'' sub-series. [[Literature/SongOfTheLioness Alanna's]] crowd are significant characters in ''Literature/TheImmortals'', Daine is a friend of Keladry's in ''Literature/ProtectorOfTheSmall'', and the ''Literature/TrickstersDuet'' is about Alanna's daughter. ''Literature/BekaCooper'', due to being a {{prequel}} set 200 years before, restricts the overlapping characters to gods and immortals, most importantly the Cat. ''Literature/TheNumairChronicles'' is an {{interquel}} starring Numair, first introduced in ''The Immortals''.
* S.M. Stirling's Nantucket series is confirmed to be connected to the author's ''Emberverse'' series.
* Creator/PGWodehouse did this quite a bit, mostly by having characters in more than one series belong to the Drones Club or visit/make reference to Literature/BlandingsCastle.
* Many of Creator/DanielPinkwater's books feature recurring minor characters, such as Rolzup the Martian High comissioner, or The Chicken Man, a black Hobo with a trained, performing chicken.
* Creator/MadeleineLEngle wrote the ''Chronos'' and ''Kairos'' series (totaling fifteen books - sixteen if "The Anti-Muffins", a chapter excised from "Meet the Austins", later published separately, and eventually reincorporated into it in all editions from 1997 on, is counted), both of which feature appearances by Canon John Tallis and Zachery Gray, and also nine other novels that are connected via shared characters:
** Tallis appears in 1992's ''Certain Women''.
** Members of the Renier family, aside from in the Chronos and Kairos sequences, appear in ''Ilsa'' (1946), ''A Severed Wasp'' (1982) (sequel to ''The Small Rain'' (1945)) and ''The Other Side of the Sun'' (1971).
** ''And Both Were Young'' (1949; later reissued with alterations in 1983) has Philippa "Flip" Hunter as the protagonist; Katherine Forrester owns one of her paintings in ''A Severed Wasp'', and the latter book also includes the character of Mimi Oppenheimer, introduced in ''A Winter's Love'' (1957) (and identified as one of Polly O'Keefe's favorite authors in the Kairos novel ''A House Like a Lotus'').
** ''A House Like a Lotus'' also includes Frank Rowan, older brother of Luisa Rowan, whose best friend is Camilla Dickinson, protagonist of the novels ''Camilla Dickinson'' (1951; later reissued with alterations as Camilla in 1965) and ''A Live Coal in the Sea'' (1996).
* Creator/SeananMcGuire's ''Literature/InCryptid'' and ''Literature/GhostRoads'' take place in the same universe, and the ghost characters Rose Marshall and Mary Dunlavy appear in both. Rose guest-stars in the [=InCryptid=] short story "The Ghosts of Bourbon Street" (free on the author's website) and later appeared in book seven of the main series, ''Tricks For Free''. Mary appears as a major character in ''Tricks for Free'' and the eighth book, ''That Ain't Witchcraft'', and the [[EldritchAbomination Crossroads]], the GreaterScopeVillain of ''Ghost Roads'', is the main antagonist of those books. Rose also mentions other [=InCryptid=] characters in passing.
* In Creator/EoinColfer's ''Literature/TheSupernaturalist'', major character Stefan Bashkir is one of Literature/ArtemisFowl's aliases (though in this book he's clearly not Artemis). Phonetix, a company that has a rivalry with Myishi, had a rivalry with Jon Spiro's Fission Chips in ''The Eternity Code''.
* Creator/MercedesLackey's Tarma and Kethry short stories were not initially in the same continuity as the ''Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar'' books, but they didn't ''not'' fit and she did some CanonWelding. Tarma and Kethry's adventures take place well south of Valdemar and several decades before Talia (protagonist of the first Valdemar books) was born, so they don't meet, but Tarma and Kethry do briefly visit Valdemar and meet a Herald. Their granddaughter Kerowyn comes to Valdemar, meets Talia, and becomes a Herald herself in ''By The Sword''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/BostonPublic'', ''[[Series/AllyMcBeal Ally [=McBeal=]]]'' and ''Series/ThePractice'' had a crossover.
** Alan Shore from ''Series/ThePractice'' went to join the law firm in ''Series/BostonLegal''.
* Back when Creator/JimHenson was alive and owned all of the Franchise/TheMuppets, Kermit the Frog provided this to the various Henson/Muppet productions. He was the main character on ''Series/TheMuppetShow'', a major character on ''Series/TheJimHensonHour'', a recurrer on ''Series/SesameStreet'', and host of specials such as ''Literature/EmmetOttersJugBandChristmas''. The various productions also had crossovers, though this doesn't happen as frequently now that the various parts of the former Muppet universe have been sold to different companies.
* ''Series/BeverlyHills90210'' begat ''Series/MelrosePlace'' which begat ''Models Inc''. Characters like Jake from ''Melrose Place'' appeared on ''90210'' before ''Melrose Place'' began. Later ''Melrose Place'' characters appeared on ''Models Inc.'' (Amanda Woodward's mother and half-brother ran ''Models Inc.''). Later, some of the original ''90210'' cast members returned for the reboot of ''90210'' and some of the original cast of ''Melrose Place'' returned for the reboot of that show as well.
* Steve Urkel of ''Series/FamilyMatters'' fame has appeared in both ''Series/FullHouse'' and ''Series/StepByStep''.
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' / ''Series/{{Angel}}'':
** The characters in both shows inhabited the same universe and crossed-over regularly. Angel, Cordelia, Wesley, Spike, and Harmony all started on ''Buffy'' and then became main characters on ''Angel''. It's worth noting that they are the ones who end up with the most character development; all of them except for Harmony end their time in the Buffyverse ''very'' different from when they first appeared.
** Rumor has it, if ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' had continued, at some point, the crew would have been passing a bar, one of the characters in a long black coat would have said, "Nothing ever bloody changes," before turning around to reveal himself as Spike.
** The ''ComicBook/{{Fray}}'' comics take place in the Buffyverse in the distant future, in which Buffy and the new slayers are long dead. Melaka Fray herself crossed into the ''Buffy Season Eight'' comic book during one arc.
** Melaka Fray also appears in the entire ''Buffy Season Twelve'' comic book series.
* ''Series/HerculesTheLegendaryJourneys'' had a spin-off in ''Series/XenaWarriorPrincess'', so this inevitable. While the leads [[RequiredSpinoffCrossover occasionally ran into each other]], the two shows featured a number of the same recurring characters, including [[LovableRogue Autolycus]], [[HonestJohnsDealership Salmoneus]], [[WarGod Ares]], [[LoveGoddess Aphrodite]], [[DarkIsNotEvil Hades]], and [[GodOfEvil Dahak]].
** Writers from both shows also experimented with this trope for minor villain Sisyphus. He first appears in "Death in Chains" (a ''Xena'' episode) and returns the following week in "Highway to Hades" (a ''Hercules'' episode). He dies in the latter episode, but returns in ''Xena'''s "Ten Little Warlords" (albeit played by a different actor this time).
** ''Series/YoungHercules'' was set years in the past, so it served to explain how Hercules met already established characters, like Iolaus, Jason, and various Olympians. After the show was established, Lilith made a couple appearances as her adult self on ''Hercules: The Legendary Journeys''.
* Characters from ''Series/{{Cheers}}'', including Norm, Cliff, Rebecca, and Frasier appeared on ''Series/{{Wings}}'', and later on the spin-off ''Series/{{Frasier}}''.
** Carla, Norm and Cliff were also in an episode of ''Series/StElsewhere'' titled, amusingly enough, "Cheers". Carla has also appeared on the short lived ''Cheers'' spin-off ''Series/TheTortellis'' which revolved around her ex-husband Nick, their brood of children and Nick's new wife Loretta most of which were recurring characters on Cheers.
* Dr. Roxanne Turner from ''Series/StElsewhere'' showed up on an episode of ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet''. Dr. Victor Ehrlich from St. Elsewhere appeared in the Homicide movie.
** Speaking of St. Elsewhere, related to this trope is the "Tommy Westphall Universe", a theory which posits that nearly 90% of all American television exists in a shared universe, [[spoiler:which exists entirely inside the mind of Tommy Westphall, an autistic child character on ''Series/StElsewhere'' who, in the series finale, is revealed to be looking into a snow globe and imagining the events of the television show]]. ''Series/StElsewhere'' crossed over with many different shows, which themselves crossed over with, and spun off, many different shows, which themselves crossed over, etc, creating an interweaving "universe" that encompasses a good majority of American television.
* Richard Belzer has played Baltimore (later NY) PD detective JustForFun/JohnMunch on approximately a ''dozen'' different TV series.
** In addition to Belzer's example, ''Series/LawAndOrderSVU'' had Angie Harmon from the parent series consulting in the first series before they got their own, dedicated prosecutor. Whoever was playing the District Attorney in the parent series would also occasionally have an appearance.
* Characters from ''Series/StargateSG1'' and ''Series/StargateAtlantis'' regularly crossover.
** Several characters from ''SG-1'' have also appeared on ''Series/StargateUniverse'' more than once.
** [=McKay=] and Woolsey were both introduced as one-off antagonists in ''SG-1'' before becoming regular characters on ''Series/StargateAtlantis''. They both appeared in the ''Series/StargateUniverse'' Season 2 episode "Seizure" to boot, making them the only ''Atlantis'' regulars bar Samantha Carter to appear in ''Universe''.
* Characters from ''Series/{{Friends}}'' and ''Series/MadAboutYou'' have crossed over. Mostly it's been Phoebe and Ursula Buffet, identical twins both played by Lisa Kudrow. Kudrow originally appeared as Ursula on ''Mad About You'', and when she was cast as Phoebe on ''Friends'', the two characters were made into twins to explain their identical appearance.
* The Creator/DisneyChannel did this with a triple crossover of some of their most popular shows, a mishmash called ''[[Series/ThatsSoRaven That's So]] [[Series/TheSuiteLifeOfZackAndCody Suite Life of]] Series/HannahMontana''.
** They performed another hodgepodge later, with ''[[Series/WizardsOfWaverlyPlace Wizards]] [[Series/TheSuiteLifeOnDeck on Deck]] With Hannah Montana.''
*** Notably, both of them took place primarily in the Suite Life setting and with one of the twin leads wearing a cake when Hannah shows up.
* Rare PanelGame example; before the final axing of its third part, ''[[Series/HaveIGotNewsForYou Have I Got]] [[Series/NeverMindTheBuzzcocks Buzzcocks]] [[Series/TheyThinkItsAllOver All Over]]'' was an irregular Series/ChildrenInNeed occurrence.
* Jack Harkness debuted in ''Series/DoctorWho'' then got spun off into his own show, ''Series/{{Torchwood}}''. Similarly, Sarah Jane Smith originated on ''Doctor Who'' back in the '70s, had a brief spinoff called ''Series/K9AndCompany,'' then returned to the revived series in the mid '00s before receiving her own spin-off, ''Series/TheSarahJaneAdventures'', taking [[TeamPet K-9]] along with her. Both of them returned for the 2-part fourth series finale of ''Doctor Who'' which also brought along two other characters from their own shows (Mr. Smith and Luke from ''SJA'' and Gwen and Ianto from ''Torchwood''). Earlier Martha Jones had appeared on ''Torchwood'' for a story arc and later the Tenth Doctor visited Sarah Jane on ''SJA''. Both characters then later reappeared for the Tenth Doctor's last story along with several other characters who had appeared throughout his tenure. The Eleventh Doctor appeared on ''SJA'' bringing along Jo Grant who was a companion to the Third Doctor just before Sarah Jane. Meanwhile, an early version of K-9 that had been PutOnABus back in 1978 was featured in a non-BBC spin-off, ''Series/{{K9}}''.
* In the ColdOpen of the episode "Seminar" from ''Series/TheOfficeUS'', Michael Scott runs into David Brent, his counterpart from the original British series. David appears again in the season 7 finale "Search Committee" as one of the people auditioning to replace Michael as manager.
* The character Director Leon Vance appears in both ''Series/{{NCIS}}'' and, its spin-off, ''Series/NCISLosAngeles'', being that he is the director of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service in CBS's ''NCIS'' franchise.
** A very subtle version happens in the first season of ''Series/{{NCIS}}'' when Bud Roberts from ''Series/{{JAG}}'' appears as to consult on an old case.
* Kensi from ''Series/NCISLosAngeles'' made a guest appearance on the revival of ''Series/HawaiiFive0''. And then ''Series/NCISLosAngeles'' and ''Series/HawaiiFive0'' did a two-way crossover where Callen and Sam came to Hawaii to prevent a black-market bioweapons buy, then Danno and Chin Ho went to L.A. to stop one of the involved parties from unleashing the bioweapon in question.
* The character Penelope Garcia is the technical analyst in both ''Series/CriminalMinds'' and its spin-off, ''Series/CriminalMindsSuspectBehavior''.
* The second season finale of ''Series/CougarTown'' features appearances by [[Series/{{Scrubs}} Ted Buckland]] and [[Series/{{Community}} Abed]].
** The second season finale of ''Series/{{Community}}'' also features a brief blink and you miss it cameo of two characters from Cougar Town. Also, Abed references his being an extra on ''Cougar Town'' in ''Community''.
*** Which he [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWfJYJMrYa0 actually appears in. As an extra.]]
** Oddly enough, while some actors who have appeared in creator Creator/BillLawrence's earlier series ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'' have also appeared in ''Cougar Town'', Ted is the only character that appears in both shows, and the show ''Scrubs'' [[RecursiveCanon exists in that universe]]. He even noticed how weird it was that some of the characters in ''Cougar Town'' [[CelebrityParadox looked like people he knew.]]
* Naturally, the different iterations of ''Franchise/StarTrek'' feature cameos from different characters, and share recurring nemeses like Q and The Borg. Worf is particularly notable for being a main character on both ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' and ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine''. O'Brien also counts; he started out as a nameless extra in TNG's pilot episode, becoming one of the most recurring characters on the show before being promoted to series regular on [=DS9=].
** He's also an identically-named IdenticalGrandson of Colonel Worf in the last original ''Film/{{Star Trek|VI The Undiscovered Country}}'' movie, allowing Worf to sorta be in ''three'' series.
** Every ''Franchise/StarTrek'' series begins with a sendoff from someone from another (except the original, of course.) In ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' [=McCoy=] visits the new Enterprise; in ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', Picard arrives at the station; in Voyager, we first meet Harry at Quark's bar. Of course, ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'' is harder to do it with without TimeTravel, but we do see a video of Zefram Cochrane, played by the same actor as in ''Film/StarTrekFirstContact.'' And, [[spoiler:Will Riker is actually in the holodeck playing out a historical recreation]] for the ''final'' episode (now considering this is a ''prequel'' series...)
*** Even the films follow this: ''Film/StarTrekGenerations'' includes several original cast members in the beginning and [[spoiler:Kirk via basically time-travel]] passes the torch to Picard. While, in [[Film/StarTrek2009 the 2009 reboot]], [[spoiler:Spock travels back in time and explains the origin of the villain.]]
* Mr. Drucker appeared on both ''Series/GreenAcres'' and ''Series/PetticoatJunction'', as his grocery store was frequented by both show's characters. The two shows often had characters visit each other regularly in the early seasons.
* ''Series/OnceUponATime'' and ''Series/OnceUponATimeInWonderland'' are set in the same 'verse and have had several one-way (OUAT-to-OUATW) crossovers. The crossover is set to happen the other was as [[spoiler: ABC announced in April 2014 that at least one major character from the now-cancelled ''Wonderland'' is to join the regular cast of the parent series for the 2014-15 season.]]
* [[Series/EverybodyLovesRaymond Ray Barone]] and [[Series/TheKingOfQueens Doug Heffernan]] were shown to be friends and often appeared on each other's shows.
** However, Kevin James originally played a completely different character (who also happened to be Ray's friend) on Series/EverybodyLovesRaymond.
* [[Film/OutOfSight Karen Sisco]] appears in ''{{Series/Justified}}'', but due to rights issues uses the surname Goodall with the explanation that she's since married. She's played by Creator/CarlaGugino, who played her in the character's short lived television series.
* The TV branch of the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse has its own share of crossover characters:
** ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'' stars Coulson, who was established in the movies, and has seen appearances of various sizes from throughout the MCU:
*** Nick Fury and Maria Hill make occasional appearances, as do Agent Sitwell (who appeared in various movies and One-Shot shorts) and Agent Blake (from the ''Item 47'' One-Shot).
*** Peggy Carter and a couple of the Howling Commandos from the first ''Captain America'' film show up in a flashback.
*** Two episodes guest-star ''Thor'''s Lady Sif.
*** Between his two movie appearances (''Captain America: The Winter Soldier''[='s=] mid-credits scene and the opening of ''Avengers: Age of Ultron''), high-ranking [[spoiler:HYDRA]] scientist Dr. List appeared on ''Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'' as a major enemy; his boss Baron Strucker also got name-dropped regularly during that same period.
*** One of the World Security Council members from ''The Avengers'' is a major character in Season 3, and is revealed to be [[spoiler:a leader of HYDRA]]. President Ellis from ''Iron Man 3'' also makes recurring appearances in Season 3.
** Various WWII-era ''Captain America'' characters have carried over to ''Agent Carter'' (both the TV series and the One-Shot short film that preceded it): Peggy Carter (of course), Howard Stark, Dum-Dum Dugan, and [[spoiler:Arnim Zola]]. Anton Vanko from ''Iron Man 2'' also briefly appears.
** The Netflix shows share a number of characters among themselves, and ''Series/TheDefenders2017'' is its ''Avengers'' equivalent bringing them all together:
*** Claire Temple serves a similar role that Coulson once did in the movies, appearing in a supporting role in all the various shows (except for ''The Punisher'').
*** ''Series/IronFist2017'' villain Madame Gao first appeared two years earlier as one of Wilson Fisk's associates in ''Series/{{Daredevil 2015}}''.
*** Luke Cage appeared in ''Series/JessicaJones2015'' before he got a series of his own. His late wife Reva also appeared in flashbacks in both shows.
*** As of the second season of ''Daredevil'', Marci has gotten a new job at Hogarth, Chao and Benowitz from ''Jessica Jones'', and Jeri Hogarth personally shows up later to hire Foggy as well. Hogarth also appears in ''Iron Fist''.
*** ''Series/LukeCage2016'' includes Turk Barrett, Ben Donovan, and Blake Tower from ''Daredevil'', and a voice-only appearance by Trish Walker from ''Jessica Jones'' via her radio talk show.
*** Frank Castle was a major character in Season 2 of ''Daredevil'' before being spun off into [[Series/ThePunisher2017 his own show]]. Karen Page, Mitchell Ellison and Brett Mahoney also follow Frank into ''The Punisher''. Claire would have been included as well, but the writers couldn't figure out a good way for her to get involved.
*** Another ''Series/IronFist2017'' one: Danny Rand crosses over to ''Series/LukeCage2016'' season 2, resulting in the MCU take on ComicBook/HeroesForHire.
** Connecting to the wider MCU, Carl "Crusher" Creel plays notable parts in both ''Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'' and the backstory of ''Daredevil'', though he doesn't appear onscreen in the latter. ''Daredevil'' also has the Dogs of Hell biker gang in Season 2, which originated in an episode of ''Agents'', though these are obviously different chapters.
* George Jefferson, from ''Series/AllInTheFamily'' and ''Series/TheJeffersons'', made a few appearances in ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'', including a brief but important role in that show's series finale where [[spoiler:he purchases the Banks' house when they decide to move out.]]
* The Series/{{Arrowverse}} characters cross over frequently. Sometimes it'll be a big {{Crisis Crossover}}s, featuring lots of characters from each series, but other times it'll be just one character making a cameo or guest spot on a different show (Felicity from ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' attended Iris's bachelorette party on ''Series/TheFlash2014'', Barry Allen from ''Series/TheFlash2014'' accidentally ran through a portal to ''Series/Supergirl2015'''s universe, John Constantine made a guest appearance on ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' following [[Series/{{Constantine}} his own show's]] cancellation, and eventually [[{{Transplant}} joined the main cast]] of ''Series/LegendsOfTomorrow'', etc.)
* ''Series/TheNanny'':
** "The Bobbi Fleckman Story" had Creator/FranDrescher playing the titular Bobbi Fleckman, her character from ''Film/ThisIsSpinalTap''.
** "The Reunion Show" had Creator/RayRomano appearing as Ray Barone from ''Series/EverybodyLovesRaymond''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
* The Wrestling/NationalWrestlingAlliance wasn't the first, or even the second wrestling body to proclaim a '''World Heavyweight Championship''', but it turned the world title belt into a powerful marketing tool by establishing a larger alliance of wrestling promotions around the world than ever before seen and sending the world champion through each of them to defeat local competitors and legitimize himself, each promotion having some say in who would hold the belt. The NWA has/had several other world champions to.
* Bad Ass Translate Trading(BATT), the most visible sign of the Wrestling/{{All Japan|ProWrestling}}\Wrestling/{{New Japan|ProWrestling}} working agreement of 2000-02, as it was a PowerStable containing members of both promotion's locker rooms and thus was the most constant source of overlap.
* Wrestling/RingOfHonor officially recognized Wrestling/{{SHIMMER}}'s champions as its own "women of honor" and The World Wrestling Network established itself as such by having the Full Impact Pro Heavyweight Champion defend his belt at ROH events.
* The Allied Independent Wrestling Federations each have their own separate title belts but all recognize a specific group of champions who represent them all. Even though Ring Wars Carolina is not an official member of the AIWF, they still did away with their own women's championship (in favor of a No Limitz belt anyone could challenge for) and hosted AIWF women's championship matches instead, including the match to decide the very first women's champion.
* Pro Wrestling International, fearing the end of pro wrestling as we know it, got the idea to send its champions to independent promotions in Canada and Europe, to get them recognized by them and promote collaboration, realizing in the current climate, competition wasn't always necessary, or even best for business.
* The World Wrestling League titles have been defended in promotions ranging from The Dominican Republic to Mexico to Bolivia and occasionally it works the other way around, with NRW LL, WWC and all around Puerto Rican star Glamour Boy Shane being acknowledged as such in Wrestling/{{TNA}}, despite being a lowly referee there or its talent's TNA exploits being openly referred to during their Wrestling/{{AAA}} or Wrestling/{{CMLL}} appearances.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* [=RPGs=] are well known for cameo characters making appearances in different games by the same developers, though these characters don't necessarily indicate that the games take place in the same universe, and are often a sort of internal ShoutOut.
** Cless and Arche from ''VideoGame/TalesOfPhantasia'' appear in ''VideoGame/TalesOfDestiny'', as does Clemente from ''VideoGame/TalesOfDestiny''.
** Chelsea from ''VideoGame/TalesOfDestiny'' appears in ''VideoGame/TalesOfEternia''.
** ''VideoGame/TalesOfHearts'' raises this to a gameplay element; scattered through the game are artifacts that let you summon characters from every previous ''VideoGame/{{Tales|Series}}'' game to perform an attack for you in battle, from [[VideoGame/TalesOfPhantasia Arche]] to [[VideoGame/TalesOfInnocence Ruca and Iria]], and Caius and Rubia from the otherwise all but disowned ''Tales of the Tempest''. As well as other characters from Creator/{{Bandai Namco|Entertainment}} games, like [[VideoGame/TheTowerOfDruaga Gil]], VideoGame/{{Klonoa}}, and [[VideoGame/{{Xenosaga}} KOS-MOS]].
** Gilgamesh from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'' makes appearances in other ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' games, such as ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII VIII]]'', ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX IX]]'', ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI XI]]'', ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII XII]]'', ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIIRevenantWings Revenant Wings]]'', ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2 XIII-2]]'', ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyType0 Type-0]]'', ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV XIV]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV XV]]''. And, retroactively, ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyI I]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI VI]]'' via their UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance [[VideoGameRemake remakes]]. And something of a BigLippedAlligatorMoment in TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon of ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyIVTheAfterYears The After Years]]'', which suggests [[spoiler:every ''FF'' game with Crystals shares an origin through the game's BigBad]]. There's the unspoken implication that he's a DimensionalTraveler, and that it's actually the same Gilgamesh in (nearly) every appearance. Curiously, ''Type-0'' appears to be his [[OriginsEpisode origin story]], or at least a glimpse at his life prior to ''V''.
** Balthier from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'' and Luso from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsA2'' appear in the remake of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics''. Several ''FFXII'' characters also appear in ''A2'', this time appearing to indicate that the two games ''do'' take place in the same universe. [[WordOfGod Same universe, same planet, even the same]] ''[[WordOfGod kingdom]]'', [[WordOfGod for the most part]]. VideoGame/{{Ivalice|Alliance}}, it's called. ''VideoGame/VagrantStory'''s in there, too.
** ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'' appears to indicate that all the ''FF'' games are part of the same [[TheMultiverse multiverse]], if rather shakily. Among other things it makes explicit what fans had long speculated: that it really is the same Gilgamesh showing up in more than half the games of the series, as his exit from ''FFV'' resulted in him dimension-hopping. According to the rules of the conflict in ''Dissidia'', [[spoiler:his banishment to the Void at the hands of Exdeath has left Gil without a world to call his home]].
* Bleu/Deis appears in several ''VideoGame/BreathOfFire'' games. [[spoiler:It's the same Deis in every game where she appears, not just a ShoutOut cameo, as she's an immortal goddess and the sister of the franchise BigBad, Tyr/Myria.]]
* ''Weak Warrior'', ''Dragon Storm'', and ''Kingdom Wars'' characters overlap.
* ''[=MonTowers=] ~Legend of Summoners~'' and ''[=MonTowers II=]'' characters overlap.
* ''Anime Arcade'', ''Cyanity'', ''Anime Gacha!'' and ''Gacha World'' characters overlap.
* [[OptionalBoss Gabrielle Celeste and the Ethereal Queen]] appear in all the ''VideoGame/StarOcean'' and ''VideoGame/ValkyrieProfile'' games (made by Creator/TriAce). In addition, Lenneth and Freya from ''[=VP1=]'' appear in ''VideoGame/StarOceanTillTheEndOfTime''; Puffy appears in every ''Star Ocean'' installment up to ''[[VideoGame/StarOceanTheLastHope The Last Hope]]''; [[InconsistentSpelling Ruddle/Raddle]] the Traveler appears in all five main ''Star Ocean'' games; Dirna Hamilton and Solon Solute from ''[=SO3=]'' appear in ''[[VideoGame/ValkyrieProfile2Silmeria VP2]]''; and Welch from ''[=SO3=]'' appears in the remakes of ''[=SO1=]'' and ''[=SO2=]'' as well as ''[=SO4=]'' and ''[[VideoGame/StarOceanIntegrityAndFaithlessness SO5]]'' after, plus the mobile RPG ''Anamnesis''.
* There's only a few ''Creator/NipponIchi'' games that ''don't'' feature crossover cameo appearances, most of them being recruitable, and the list only continues to grow. In fact, Asagi, who debuted as an EarlyBirdCameo for a cancelled game, lives on ''solely'' as a cameo. She'd had a 100% attendance record every since.
* The ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' series has included many crossovers, from the main character from ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIf'' appearing in ''VideoGame/{{Persona|1}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Persona 2}}'', and Raidou appearing in the rerelease of ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiNocturne'' (in place of [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry Dante]]) included with the special edition of ''Raidou Kuzunoha 2''. More recently, Vincent, the main character of ''VideoGame/{{Catherine}}'', made a cameo in ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}} Portable''.
* ''VideoGame/CastleOfShikigami'': Nigi Gorgeous Blue from ''Gunparade March'' appears in ''Castle of Shikigami II'', and Reika from ''VideoGame/TimeGal'' appears in ''Castle of Shikigami III''.
* While the older ''VideoGame/AceCombat'' games were unambiguously set in the same ConstructedWorld, their storylines were so self-contained that they could have just as well been taking place in parallel universes. However, a [[http://acecombat.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Cross-game_characters few overlapping characters]] linked the storylines together.
* The Monsta and Mighta enemies from ''VideoGame/BubbleBobble'' also appeared in the earlier Creator/{{Taito}} game ''Chack'n Pop''.
* NYPD Detective Sam Durkin first appeared in ''VideoGame/TheShivah'', he has since gotten a more expanded role in ''VideoGame/TheBlackwellSeries''. As ''VideoGame/{{Unavowed}}'' takes place in the same universe, it also sees him appearing in a minor role.
* The core series ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' games set in different regions (except for [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Kanto]] and [[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Johto]], which are paired due to the former being fully available in the latter's games) traditionally share very few characters, but there are exceptions:
** The main character from the Kanto games, Red, and his rival, Blue, not only appear as the strongest Trainer in the game and a Gym Leader, respectively, in Generation II, but also as bosses of the Battle Tree in [[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon Generation]] [[VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon VII's]] Alola region.
** The Pokémon World Tournament from ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2'' contains a Champions Tournament, featuring all Champions from all Generations up to that one (Gen V), including the aforementioned Red, and serveral Leaders Tournaments, featuring all Gym Leaders from a specific region or, in the case of the World Leaders Torunament and the Rental Master Tournament, all regions.
** Professor Oak from Kanto doesn't only appear in Generation II, but also has a brief cameo in Generation IV. Also, his cousin Samson is introduced in Alola.
** Jasmine, the Olivine City Gym Leader from the Johto games, appears briefly at Sinnoh's Sunyshore City in the Generation IV titles and can also turn as an opponent in the Super Contests held at Hearthome City. In return, Crasher Wake, the Pastoria City Gym Leader, makes an appearance in the Generation IV remakes of ''Gold'' and ''Silver'', ''[=HeartGold=]'' and ''[=SoulSilver=]'', at both the Celadon Department Store and Route 47. A conversation between Jasmine and Erika of the Celadon City Gym in ''HG/SS'' places Jasmine's cameo in Sinnoh after the main events of the Johto games.
** Sinnoh's Champion Cynthia also appears in ''[=HeartGold/SoulSilver=]'' if you take Arceus to the Ruins of Alph, whereupon an event will trigger and transport the player to the Sinjoh Ruins. She'd then appear in ''Black/White'' and their sequels at Undella Town, camping out at a villa owned by Caitlin (see below).
** Speaking of Champions, Steven Stone, the (former) from [[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Hoenn region Champion]], makes an appearance at Pewter City during the postgame of ''[=HeartGold/SoulSilver=]''.
** In both the Kanto remakes and the original Hoenn games, it is mentioned that Brawly, the Dewford City Gym Leader from Hoenn, and Bruno, the Elite Four member from Kanto, used to train together in Kanto before Brawly moved to Hoenn.
** Caitlin first appears as the head of the Battle Castle in the Battle Frontier of ''Pokémon Platinum'' (set in Sinnoh) and the Johto remakes. She later reappears as a member of the Elite Four in the [[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite Unova]] [[VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2 games]].
** Since his introduction in ''Platinum'', international police member Looker has reappeared in every main series game (remakes included) up until Gen VII's ''[[VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndLetsGoEevee Let's Go!]]''
** Both Grimsley of the Unova Elite Four and Colress of Team Plasma appear in ''Sun/Moon'', with Grimsley indirectly assisting [[spoiler:the player's infiltration of Team Skull's HQ in Po Town]] by registering a Sharpedo as one of the player's Ride Pokémon. ''Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon'' would then expand Colress's role by having him be one of the scientific minds the Ultra Recon Squad reached out to for help with the approaching threat of [[spoiler:[[EldritchAbomination Necrozma]]]] as well as playing a part in the defeat of Ghetsis and [[VillainTeamUp Team Rainbow Rocket]] during Episode RR.
** Frontier Brain Anabel from ''[[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Pokémon Emerald]]'', set in Hoenn, later reappears as Looker's colleague in Alola. What makes this example an interesting one is that [[spoiler:the games involving Mega Evolution as a gameplay mechanic (i.e. Gen VI and onward) are all but stated to exist in an AlternateUniverse from the games that don't... and it's heavily implied, due to [[TrappedInAnotherWorld her status as a "Faller"]] and [[LaserGuidedAmnesia her hazy memories of her past life]], that the Anabel seen in these games is the actual Anabel from ''Emerald'', not her Mega Timeline counterpart]].
** Professor Burnet from ''Pokémon Dream Radar'' (released during Gen V as a companion to the ''Black/White'' titles) reappears in Generation VII and is revealed to be married to Alola's Professor Kukui.
** Dexio and Sina, Professor Sycamore's assistants in ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'', reappear in ''(Ultra) Sun/Moon'', investigating the appearance of [[OlympusMons Zygarde]] in Alola and later explaining to the player the mechanics of Mega Evolution while providing them with a Key Stone and Mega Stone of their own.
** Similar to the Pokémon World Tournament, the aforementioned Battle Tree in Alola features several notable Trainers from previous games as potential opponents or partners in Double Battles. In addition to several names listed above (Red, Blue, Anabel, Cynthia, Grimsley, Colress, Dexio, Sina), Wally, the {{Friendly Rival|ry}} from Hoenn, also turns up here.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* A handful of overlapping characters is all that holds the [[Franchise/{{Nasuverse}} Type-Moon]] multiverse together (the convoluted magic laws aside): CoolOldGuy Zelretch plays a large role in the backstory of ''VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}}'' and makes a cameo appearance in ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight''. His unique True Magic allows him to travel through the multiverse, and to create devices allowing others to do the same. CoolBigSis Touko Aozaki is a major character in ''Literature/TheGardenOfSinners'', is mentioned briefly in ''Fate'', and her sister Aoko appears in ''Tsukihime'' and is the protagonist of ''VisualNovel/WitchOnTheHolyNight'' (which Touko also appears in).
* When [[Creator/VoltageInc Voltage Entertainment USA]] localized ''VisualNovel/MySweetBodyguard'' into ''To Love & Protect'', Japanese Prime Minister Hiraizumi was adapted into President Robertson and his bodyguards Daichi Katsuragi and Subaru Ichiyanagi into Secret Service agents Chadwick [=McGrew=] and Edgar Morton. Robertson subsequently appears in a major supporting role in the Voltage USA original game ''VisualNovel/QueensGambit'', with Chadwick and Edgar in minor roles. It's not clear if this is a case of shared continuity, alternate continuity, or simply recycling of convenient existing character assets.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* The Midnight Crew appeared in the tenuously canonical Fan Donation section of ''Webcomic/ProblemSleuth'' before having an intermission to themselves in ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', which was revealed at the end to have storyline relevance with [[spoiler:the Crew being exiles from the Trolls' session, and their rival gang]].
* While their stories take place in different settings, the authors of ''Webcomic/NeverSatisfied'' and ''Webcomic/RiversideExtras'' loaned each other characters from their respective works:
** Lucy Marlowe had a guest role in a chapter of ''Riverside Extras'', [[EarlyBirdCameo before their own comic started]].
** Several of Magister Lapointe's proxies in ''Never Satisfied'' are Riverside cameos, including Ophelia, Derry, Siobhan, and Dr. Brandt. Lapointe herself was initially meant to be a Riverside character (Ma Oceana), but ended up assuming a larger role as the story progressed and was subsequently {{retcon}}ned into a separate character [[spoiler:to avoid both comics sharing a main antagonist]].
* ''Webcomic/{{Peritale}}'' and ''Life of Melody'' take place in a shared setting. The main characters of the latter (Razzmatazz, Bon, and Melody) appear in a brief scene in the former. Marie and Mr. Lefèbvre, the main characters of ''The Well by the House on the Hill'' from the same author, appear in a supporting role in ''Peritale'', though the comics don't share a setting or continuity.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Video]]
* ''WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd'': [[WebVideo/PatTheNesPunk Pat the NES Punk]] appears in Episode 104. [[WebVideo/YouKnowWhatsBullshit Bullshit Man]] appears in Episode 113. WebVideo/BoardJames appears in Episodes 115 and 137.
* ''WebVideo/BoardJames'': [[WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd The Angry Video Game Nerd]] appears in Episode 25.
* ''Website/ChannelAwesome'': [[WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd The Angry Video Game Nerd]] appears in ''WebVideo/TGWTGYearOneBrawl'', while Board James appears in ''WebVideo/{{Kickassia}}''.
* ''WebVideo/EmpiresSMP'' Season 2:
** Oli's ''WebVideo/AfterlifeSMP'' finale episode segues directly into his first ''Empires'' Season 2 episode.
** Shelby's ''Empires'' Season 2 finale confirms that she's the same character as [[spoiler:the Storm Witch from the ''WebVideo/WitchCraftSMP'', just about ten years younger]].
* LetsPlay/{{InTheLittleWood}} has established that his "Datastream Defender" V-Tuber lore characters from the ''WebVideo/RatsSMP'' and the ''WebVideo/PiratesSMP'' are the same character, and has stated that his ''WebVideo/LifeSMP'' "Eyes and Ears" continuity is connected to his V-Tuber lore, thus connecting that series' iteration of him as well.
* The ''[[WebVideo/DreamSMP Tales from the SMP]]'' episode "The Haunted Mansion" confirms that the Connor and Schlatt from the ''WebVideo/DreamSMP'' are the same characters from ''WebVideo/SMPLive''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* Probably the most famous practitioner of this in animation is Creator/HannaBarbera. During TheSeventies and into TheEighties, H-B ''loved'' crossing over its own properties as much as possible.
** ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDoo'' was an absolute magnet for this. Characters from H-B's adventure series (original and licensed) showed up -- including (but not limited to) Jeannie, WesternAnimation/SpeedBuggy, Dynomutt, and WesternAnimation/JosieAndThePussycats. The Laff-A-Lympics also revolved around this concept.
*** An episode of ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMysteryIncorporated'' poked fun at this tendency with Scooby teaming up with Captain Caveman, Jabberjaw, Speed Buggy, and Mudsy/the Funky Phantom. [[spoiler:However, it would turn out to be dream and none of them exist in the world of ''Mystery Incorporated'' except as [[ShowWithinAShow fictional characters]] (or completely made up by Scooby's imagination, in the case of Mudsy and the Funky Phantom crew).]]
*** Yet another ''Mystery Inc.'' episode featured an extended cameo of Blue Falcon and Dynomutt... only this time ''[[CerebusSyndrome not]]'' PlayedForLaughs.
*** During ''Scooby-Doo'''s period of near-total inactivity (1991-1998), the gang crossed over with ''WesternAnimation/JohnnyBravo'' in "Bravo-Dooby-Doo".
*** The ''Scooby-Doo! Team Up'' comics featured numerous crossovers between classic ''Scooby-Doo'' and numerous Creator/DCComics characters in their general depictions, although one issue had a specific crossover with the ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansGo'' show.
*** ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndGuessWho'' features numerous crossovers, again with other Hanna-Barbera properties like ''WesternAnimation/TheFunkyPhantom'' and Creator/DCComics characters (with an implication that these DC heroes are their ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueAction'' incarnations).
*** ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndBatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'' is a crossover between the ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooDirectToVideoFilmSeries'' and ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold''. The latter had already had guest star appearance from Mystery Incorporated in their classic incarnation as well.
** At least three of H-B's MadeForTVMovie[=s=] crossed ''WesternAnimation/YogiBear'' over with characters from ''WesternAnimation/TheHuckleberryHoundShow'' along with some of their other cartoon series with similar design aesthetics.
** Similarly, a ''WesternAnimation/SpaceGhost'' cliffhanger was resolved with the aid of the company's less-remembered ''[[WesternAnimation/MobyDickHannaBarbera Moby Dick]]'' interpretation.
** ''WesternAnimation/TheJetsonsMeetTheFlintstones'' exists. Did we mention Hanna-Barbera loved this trope?
** Long after the studio was absorbed into the Time-Warner empire, the trend continues:
*** The cast of ''WesternAnimation/HarveyBirdmanAttorneyAtLaw'' is made up largely of classic (often very obscure) Hanna-Barbera characters, and the litigants are very often from the well-known Hanna-Barbera series.
*** ''WesternAnimation/OKKOLetsBeHeroes'', being one giant love letter to Cartoon Network's old Hanna-Barbera originals, also gets in on the action. One episode even brings in WesternAnimation/CaptainPlanet to help stop an eco-terrorist plot, and another brings back the Grimwood Girls from ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndTheGhoulSchool'' as Enid's childhood friends. Hanna-Barbera aside, the show also provided a FullyAbsorbedFinale to series creator Ian Jones-Quartey's previous work, ''Webcomic/RPGWorld''.
* ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitchTheSeries'' leaned into the RunningGag of Stitch meddling in other Disney franchises, crossing over with ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'', ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDragonJakeLong'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'', and ''WesternAnimation/TheProudFamily'' on different occasions.
* ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Inhumanoids}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Jem}}'', and ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'' share the journalist Hector Ramirez, leading to speculation of a shared universe. In turn, in the third season of ''The Transformers'' (which took place 20 years into the future), elderly versions of Flint and Cobra Commander from ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero'' made appearances.
* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/HerculesTheAnimatedSeries'' involved a crossover with the cast of ''WesternAnimation/AladdinTheSeries''.
* ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales1987'' and ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'' have Launchpad [=McQuack=] in common as a main character, and Gizmo-Duck as a notable recurring one. ''Darkwing'' also saw the occasional cameo from Flintheart Glomgold, the Beagle Boys, and Magica De Spell.
* ''WesternAnimation/AceVenturaPetDetective'': Stanley Ipkiss from the animated adaptation of ''WesternAnimation/TheMask'' makes an appearance in the second season finale. It's a sequel to a Mask episode that features Ace and his pet monkey Spike.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'':
** The show begat ''WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain'', which became ''WesternAnimation/PinkyElmyraAndTheBrain'' with the inclusion of Elmyra from ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures''. Elmyra also appeared in an early episode, "Lookit the Fuzzy Heads", where she joins the Warners in one of Dr. Scratchensniff's therapy sessions.
** Wakko and Brain both appear in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Freakazoid}}'', where they all get into an argument over who Creator/StevenSpielberg likes best. Answer? [[spoiler:He doesn't know who any of them are.]]
** WesternAnimation/BugsBunny and WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck make cameo appearances in "The Warners' 65 Anniversary Special" and "Back in Style", while WesternAnimation/WileECoyoteAndTheRoadrunner appear in "Little Old Slappy from Pasadena".
* A character appears in the finale of ''WesternAnimation/CampLazlo'', and though they're not namechecked, they're heavily implied to be [[spoiler:a LawyerFriendlyCameo of Heffer Wolfe from ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'']]. A RunningGag associated with them ([[spoiler:[[IAmNotWeasel being mistaken for a cow]]]]) comes up in their appearance to highlight this.
* ''Franchise/Ben10'':
** ''WesternAnimation/GeneratorRex'' had a crossover special with fellow Creator/ManOfActionStudios ''WesternAnimation/Ben10UltimateAlien'', where it turned out ''Generator Rex'' and ''Ben 10'' exist in the same multiverse. ''WesternAnimation/Ben10Omniverse'' would also feature a guest star appearance from WesternAnimation/{{the Secret Saturdays}} (albeit [[YouDontLookLikeYou redesigned and with different voice actors]]), whose show had been over for a couple of years by the time of this crossover.
** ''WesternAnimation/Ben102016'' had a CrisisCrossover with several other Creator/CartoonNetwork shows, explained as being other universes (including the aforementioned ''WesternAnimation/GeneratorRex'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheSecretSaturdays'' in CrossoverCameo appearances). Ben teamed up with ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse''[='=]s Garnet, ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansGo''[='=]s ComicBook/{{Raven}}, and ''WesternAnimation/OKKOLetsBeHeroes'''s K.O.
* Demona from ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'' would have appeared in an episode of the cancelled ''WesternAnimation/AtlantisTheLostEmpire'' animated series. However, WordOfGod clarifies that the two stories merely intersect here and otherwise don't share the same universe, due to his own plans for the city of Atlantis in ''Gargoyles'' that isn't based on the portrayal in the ''Atlantis'' universe.
* ''WesternAnimation/StarTrekLowerDecks'', being an animated installment of the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' franchise, is rife with crossovers from other entries, allowing certain characters and concepts to appear here without much worry about things like appearance. Even more so, it allows us to see what they've been up to since their last (chronical, as the show takes place starting in 2380, a mere year or two after ''Film/StarTrekNemesis'' and ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'') appearance, such as [[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration Riker and Troi]] on the ''Titan'' or [[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Kira and Quark]] on Deep Space Nine.
[[/folder]]
----