History Main / GatewaySeries

* 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 "e-sports" 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.

* Ironically, one of the above's influences, ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'', likewise serves as an ideal gateway series for fans of newspaper comics.

* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog''

* 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 ''Manhwa/KillingStalking'', ''Webcomic/{{Bastard}}'', ''Webcomic/FlutteringFeelings'', ''Webcomic/WhatDoesTheFoxSay'', and ''Webcomic/NineteenTwentyOne''.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' 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.

* 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/TheCthulhuMythos Cthulhu]]'' as a one-off antagonist?

** 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 children's show aiming for a general audience, ''Filly'' is not a girl show in the slightest. Instead of a majority female cast like MLP, male pony characters are abundant and significant too.

** 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. Instead of a majority female cast like MLP, male pony characters are significant too.

* ''Franchise/SlyCooper''

* A lot of Myth/NorseMythology enthusiasts freely admit that ComicBook/TheMightThor was what got them interested.

** ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' serves as an introduction into the overall Batman mythos 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[[/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.
** Likewise, ''Superman'', whose [[LostInImitation movies tended to not]] accept the existence of bad guys not named Luthor and Zod. ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'' introduced many to Brainiac, Mr. Mxyzsptlk, 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. Likewise, the DCAU version of Luthor was the first one to emphasize his scientific acumen (which the movies never tackled) and his CorruptCorporateExecutive revision of TheEighties (or as Creator/NeilGaiman called him "skinny Kingpin").

* ''ComicBook/ArchieComics'' is a gateway series into comics due to it's availability (it can be bought in supermarkets and stores unlike most American comics) and it's mostly kid-friendly nature.

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 (espeically 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.

!!Examples:

Important Note: The classifying of anything as being a 'gateway something' does not in any way imply 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.

* GatewaySeries/Film

[[folder:Anime]]
* For the oldest American fans, ''Manga/AstroBoy'' was their gateway series.
* ''Anime/SpeedRacer'' '''defined''' {{Anime}} for a couple generations.
* Virtually anything aired on Creator/{{Toonami}} and/or Creator/AdultSwim has been a gateway anime for many viewers. Of course, Creator/CartoonNetwork seems to have been pretty careful about selecting shows with mainstream appeal -- and clearly they've been successful. This makes it even more alarming that both daytime CN and Adult Swim have drastically decreased their amount of anime programming [[{{Uncancelled}} up until recently.]] Many have pointed at Cartoon Network's... [[NetworkDecay controversial changes]] [[ScrewedByTheNetwork as the reason why]].
** ''Anime/DragonballZ'' is a big one, serving as a common gateway into anime, {{shonen}}, and FightingSeries, in order of specificity.
** ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion''. A ''lot'' of {{otaku}} became interested in anime after they watched it, and also got quite a few into the mecha genre as well. (On the other hand, it had the ''opposite'' effect on a lot of people too...) A whole new generation of ''Eva'' fans has arisen ever since the series was broadcast on -- you guessed it -- Creator/AdultSwim.
*** Actually ''Eva'' was first aired in the US by KTEH (now KQED+), a ''Creator/{{PBS}} affiliate'' in San Jose, uncensored in Japanese! Public television gives you that freedom.
*** One would think that the ways in which the series extensively plays with -- and subverts -- anime tropes, the notoriously confusing plot, the highly divisive characters, and the all-around weirdness of the show would make it less than ideal viewing for someone unfamiliar with the medium. It's like some personal variant of UnbuiltTrope.
** The pilot anime for Creator/AdultSwim was ''Anime/CowboyBebop'', a series great for getting people interested in the medium.
** ''Manga/DeathNote'' was a gateway series for many into anime period, though for most it was a gateway series into a specific genre (not necessarily bound to anime either) containing darker themes, intense character interactions, strong dubbing, avoidance of the more obvious anime cliches and a decidedly VillainProtagonist, leading many people to search for more "gray-area" genre series like the aforementioned ''Anime/CodeGeass''.
** ''Manga/{{Trigun}}'' is another common gateway series, based on the mix of action and humor, and the particularly memorable characters. This, along with the aforementioned ''Cowboy Bebop'' was one of the first anime to premier on Adult Swim and one of the first to get a strong fanbase.
** Before ''Anime/CowboyBebop'' or ''Manga/{{Trigun}}'', Toonami brought viewers ''Manga/OutlawStar'', the first of the SpaceWestern Anime Trinity. It mixes a lot of the best elements from both east and west that would help new western viewers adjust to the anime style, has a very diverse cast of extremely entertaining and likeable characters, and could almost be considered a gateway to the other two space western anime, considering it's (relatively) lighter in tone.
** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing'' was one of the first anime to be shown on Creator/CartoonNetwork that dealt with RealLife politics, in a stark contrast to the more fantastical and superpowered plots of ''Anime/RoninWarriors'' and ''Anime/DragonBallZ''. It was the success of the late night "uncut" showings that helped start Creator/AdultSwim, and the combination of giant robot action and handsome male leads introduced many young boys and girls to anime in general and HumongousMecha in particular. Unfortunately, Bandai ended up killing the momentum ''Wing'' started by following it up with the 20-year-old original ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'', which while an undisputed classic of anime, didn't appeal to young American viewers. For years, fans have debated that had they followed up with the more contemporary shows like ''[[Anime/MobileFighterGGundam G Gundam]]'' or ''[[Anime/AfterWarGundamX Gundam X]]'', the franchise might have held on longer.
*** Both ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing Gundam Wing]]'' and ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSeed Gundam SEED]]'', aired a few years after Wing, are generally acknowledged to be the two most recent gateway series into the Franchise/{{Gundam}} universe, at least in the west. In Japan, on the other hand, the original ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' was popular enough to be a gateway in and of itself to the Universal Century.
*** Gundam Seed itself was made to be this. Its primary purpose was to bring Gundam to a new audience.
*** Anime/GundamBuildFighters is also this for those new to Gundam and/or Gunpla building, or for those who haven't seen other Gundam shows and movies.
*** [[http://werememberlovespecials.wordpress.com/2008/12/12/finding-your-gateway-gundam/ Here]] is a quiz that can help you find your Gateway to the [[LongRunner huge]] Gundam franchise.
** ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' could be considered the the third Big Boom of modern anime watchers (the first being ''Manga/DragonBall'' and Creator/{{Toonami}} and the second being Creator/AdultSwim).
*** Also, ''Naruto'' and ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' have introduced many anime fans into the FanSub industry.
** Know someone who likes shows like ''Series/{{CSI}}'' and ''Series/LawAndOrder'', and who thinks of anime as [[AnimationAgeGhetto "kid's stuff"]]? Show them ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex''. It seems to work quite well.
*** Similarly, the original ''Anime/GhostInTheShell'' movie was one of the first anime to get attention from mainstream critics, and counter the stereotype that [[AllAnimeIsNaughtyTentacles all anime was senseless sex and violence.]]
** ''Anime/TheBigO'' is heavily influenced by American fiction, having been called Franchise/{{Batman}} with robots, so it's easy for Americans to follow. For a time Creator/AdultSwim showed it on weeknights just after Family Guy and Futurama, and it got a large enough following in the U.S. that they were able to finance a second season, showing new episodes at the front of their Sunday night lineup.
** ''Anime/SailorMoon''. Best said [[http://movies.ign.com/articles/103/1036651p4.html here:]]
-->One also has to recognize Sailor Moon's massive impact on American anime fandom. Hers was the first show that managed to draw in a measurable audience of real, live girls, who became genuinely hardcore fans thanks to shows like ''Anime/RurouniKenshin'' and ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena''. Which led, by a long and twisted trail, to a number of fanboys unexpectedly finding a way to lose their virginities at conventions some years down the line. They may not quite know it, but they owe you one, Sailor Moon.
* Anime reached France en masse at the end of the '70s, and for a good part of the '80s, almost the most programs on children's television were anime. Also, due to AnimationAgeGhetto syndrome, some totally non-suitable for kids series were broadcasted. It backfired spectacularly in the late '90s (until ''Manga/CardcaptorSakura'' then ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' made their way). Let's just list the biggest ones: ''[[Anime/UFORoboGrendizer Goldorak]]'', ''[[Anime/MagicalPrincessMinkyMomo Gigi]]'', ''[[Anime/CaptainHarlock Albator]]'' (this one being extremely well-beloved; [[Anime/{{Interstella 5555}} did you wonder how]] Music/DaftPunk knew Creator/LeijiMatsumoto?), ''Manga/SpaceAdventureCobra'' (which main character was explicitly modeled after a French actor), ''Manga/{{Candy|Candy}}'', ''[[Manga/RoseOfVersailles Lady Oscar]]'' (there even was a movie by a famous French director), ''Anime/SherlockHound'', ''Manga/CatsEye'', ''Manga/DragonBall'' and ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' of course, ''[[Manga/SaintSeiya Les Chevaliers du Zodiaque]]'', ''[[Manga/SallyTheWitch Minifée]]'', ''Anime/MagicalAngelCreamyMami'', ''[[Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar Ken le Survivant]]'' (sadly, not kidding; the dub deliberately {{Macekre}}-d and {{Gag Dub}}bed it to tone down the violence), ''[[Manga/MaisonIkkoku Juliette je t'aime]]'', ''Manga/CityHunter'', ''[[Manga/KimagureOrangeRoad Max et Cie]]''. And so on.
** ''Anime/TheMysteriousCitiesOfGold'' and ''Anime/{{Ulysses 31}}'' weren't seen as anime series, since they are [[InternationalCoproduction french-japanese]] shows.
** In short, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manga_outside_Japan#France French really LOVE anime and manga]]. Many series featured below in Latin America were broadcasted a little bit earlier or simultaneously in France. This is possibly due to anime and manga fitting into [[Main/FrancoBelgianComics the existing tradition in France of adult-oriented comic books]].
* In Spain, the love for anime and manga followed up its boom in France quite quickly (as a matter of fact, at first many series were translated from the French version, instead of the English or Japanese). Although shows like ''Anime/MazingerZ'' and some Creator/StudioGhibli productions prepared the terrain during the late 70s and early 80s, the whole thing exploded in the late 80s and early 90s with two shows: ''Manga/DragonBall'' and ''Manga/CaptainTsubasa''. A whole generation of Spaniard kids became obsessed with anime and manga, and nowadays it's impossible to understand Spanish pop culture without taking this medium into account. Other shows that became big getaways in the following decades were ''Anime/SaintSeiya'' (Known as "Los caballeros del Zodiaco" or "The Zodiac Knights"), ''Franchise/SailorMoon'', ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'', ''Anime/{{Doraemon}}'', ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'', ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'', ''Manga/LoveHina'' (more the manga than the anime, though), ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'', ''Manga/OnePiece'', ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', ''{{Manga/Bleach}}'' and ''Anime/InazumaEleven''.
* Latin America had gateway anime quite sooner than the US, with series such as ''Mazinger Z'', ''Anime/SaintSeiya'', ''Space Pirate Anime/CaptainHarlock'', ''Space Adventure Cobra'', ''Anime/KotetsuJeeg'', ''Space Dragon Gaiking'', ''Magnet Robot Gakeen'', ''Manga/CandyCandy'', ''[[Anime/ScienceNinjaTeamGatchaman Gatchaman]]'', ''Anime/AstroBoy'' and many more being shown regularly after school and on the weekends. Other examples include ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'', ''Manga/DragonBall'' (and ''Anime/DragonBallZ''), and ''Manga/{{Cyborg 009}}'' among others like ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}[=/=]Franchise/{{Digimon}}''.
* In UsefulNotes/{{Brazil}}, ''[[Manga/SaintSeiya Saint Seiya(Os Cavaleiros do Zodíaco)]]'' was the gateway for many anime fans in this country. The huge success during the middle to the end of the 90s open the doors for a lot of Anime to come, most notable: ''Manga/YuYuHakusho'', ''Manga/DragonBall'', ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'', ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'', ''[[Manga/CaptainTsubasa Captain Tsubasa(Super Campeões)]]'', ''Franchise/SailorMoon'', ''Manga/LegendOfHeavenlySphereShurato'', ''Anime/RoninWarriors'', ''Anime/StreetFighterIIV'', ''[[Manga/DaiNoDaibouken Dragon Quest Dai(Fly)]]''.
* To a lesser extent, ''Anime/{{Hamtaro}}'' for the little kids.
* ''Franchise/FullmetalAlchemist'', which boasts good animation, fabulous story-telling, great characters, and a pinch of dark themes. Even those who don't even like anime love it. Traditionally, the [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist 2003 anime]] is the most popular; however, the TruerToTheText ''[[Manga/FullmetalAlchemist Brotherhood]]'' has become a gateway series as well.
* You wouldn't think it, but stories abound of guys and gals who got into anime thanks to watching ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'' on Toonami.
* One of the first well-dubbed series imported into the United States was ''Anime/RanmaOneHalf''. Having a good dub helped, but the manga was a breakout hit too. Any Creator/RumikoTakahashi series functions as a gateway series, thanks to her impeccable skills of characterization that transcend cultural boundaries. Just look at how many people in more recent years got hooked on anime after watching ''Manga/InuYasha'' on Creator/AdultSwim.
* The films of Creator/StudioGhibli, especially those helmed by Creator/HayaoMiyazaki, and ''especially'' those that were given wide theatrical release and a celebrity-filled dub by Creator/{{Disney}}. Major films include ''Anime/MyNeighborTotoro'', ''Anime/PrincessMononoke'', and especially ''Anime/SpiritedAway'', which gained exposure and a lot of new converts when it won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
* Genres inside a medium do it too. ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'', ''VisualNovel/{{Kanon}}'', ''[[LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya]]'', ''VisualNovel/{{Clannad}}'', and ''VisualNovel/{{AIR}}'' have converted many a [[{{shojo}} shoujo]] fan to the {{seinen}} series they once dismissed as {{fanservice}}y junk.
* ''Anime/MDGeist'' was one of the first anime titles to break into the billboard top 10 video charts in the US in 1992 and introducing many people to both ultra violent anime for the first time.
* ''Manga/{{Akira}}'' is widely credited with introducing the anime feature film to the West in the late 1980s. Alas, Creator/MangaEntertainment capitalised on this by releasing a tide of unmitigated pap straight to video which left the general impression that all anime was ''Legend of the Overfiend'' and ''Manga/ViolenceJack''.
** The tide of pap had some examples of its own, though. ''[[Manga/{{Guyver}} The Guyver: Bio Booster Armor]]'', ''Anime/NinjaScroll'', the ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' stuff, and ''Anime/CyberCityOedo808'' all helped to get people interested in the medium.
** The manga was also one of the first to get localized in America, by Creator/MarvelComics no less.
* An early "gateway movie" for many early otaku was the ''LightNovel/DirtyPair'' [[TheMovie movie]] ''Project Eden''. Many came to it through Adam Warren's Amerimanga adaption of the characters, and it was frequently fansubbed.
* Another early "wave" of anime fans came from ''{{Anime/Robotech}}'', ''Anime/StarBlazers'', or ''Anime/{{Voltron}}''.
* ''Anime/BattleOfThePlanets'' caused many fans to look into anime when they discovered, to their surprise, that the show they had enjoyed as a child was actually Japanese (and heavily edited).
* ''Manga/InitialD'' is something of a Gateway Series for car guys to get into manga and anime.
** Inversely the series has also been a Gateway Series for many anime and manga fans to car scene.
** The games too are like this. If you've never played arcade racers competitively before, ''VideoGame/InitialDArcadeStage'' will help you break yourself in.
* ''Manga/KannazukiNoMiko'' could be considered a Gateway Series for [[GirlsLove Yuri]], or an attempted one, for mixing robots and the standard young male robot pilot that could get the girl...but really leading into {{Seinen}} about SchoolgirlLesbians. It's less so in the 2010s though, as it's seen as outdated and cliche, however it was a common gateway yuri series.
* ''LightNovel/MariaSamaGaMiteru'' is probably ''the'' GirlsLove gateway series.
* For several people, ''Manga/{{ARIA}}'' is a gateway series to SliceOfLife anime. For others, the gateway into this genre was ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh'', ''Manga/LuckyStar'', ''Manga/KOn'' or ''VisualNovel/{{CLANNAD}}''.
* ''Anime/GaoGaiGar'' (or ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' for a more recent example) is an excellent way to introduce someone to the SuperRobot / HumongousMecha genre.
* ''Anime/NadiaTheSecretOfBlueWater'' managed to convert many Japanese proto-fans when it aired in 1990.
* Sci-fi Channel's initial "Japanimation Week", back in the early-mid 1990's, consisting of ''Anime/CasshanRobotHunter'', ''[[Anime/EighthMan 8-Man After]]'', ''[[Anime/ProjectAKo Project A-ko: The Vs. Battles]]'', ''Literature/DemonCityShinjuku'', ''Lily C.A.T.'', ''Manga/GalaxyExpress999,'' and ''Anime/RobotCarnival'' stretched across the whole week. These and a few other movies subsequently went into the channel's "Saturday Anime" rotation. And let's not forget TBS' late-night showings of heavily edited anime such as ''LightNovel/VampireHunterD''.
** ''Anime/NinjaScroll'' spawned a generation of anime fans.
** ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'', as mentioned above.
** ''Anime/{{Monster}}'' is set in Germany and drawn in an extremely realistic style which some people find atypical for manga and anime. It uses very few JapaneseMediaTropes, favoring classic detective and crime tropes instead.
* ''Anime/TenchiMuyo'' or ''Manga/LoveHina'' as gateways to the HaremGenre.
* Inverted with ''Manga/{{Eyeshield 21}}'', where the series instead is a gateway to get anime nerds into USAmerican football.
* ''Manga/CardcaptorSakura'' is considered by many to be one of the best magical girl series of all time, not only because of its own merits, but because it was a gateway series into the MagicalGirl genre or anime itself.
* The first ''Anime/YuGiOh'' series. A lot of younger tropers probably grew up with it before even knowing what anime was.
** Heck, this is perhaps [[Creator/FourKidsEntertainment 4Kids']] sole redeeming grace, via their dubs of the Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh anime. It helps that both franchises were wildly successful as well.
* ''Anime/TheVisionOfEscaflowne'' aired on Fox for a while, then got cancelled. Whether it was this or Bandai releasing the VHS tapes two years before its broadcast, no one knows how exactly, but this anime introduced a lot of fans to anime in general, and many cite it as their personal favorite because they were surprised at how different it looked from other shows. It took risks, it looked great, it had compelling characters, and it was basically unlike anything they've ever seen.
* Many girls in Canada and the UK got into anime thanks to ''Anime/FutariWaPrettyCure''.
* Over the years, ''Anime/TheCastleOfCagliostro'' has been used by anime fans as a jumping-on point for the ''Franchise/LupinIII'' franchise, as well as anime in general. This can get very ironic considering the titular character's actions and personality [[CasanovaWannabe in the movie]] don't quite match up with [[HandsomeLech any of his other incarnations]]. Creator/AdultSwim chose to air ''Anime/LupinIIIRedJacket'' episodes, which provided another surge of popularity for the franchise. Experienced fans have been able to note differences on Lupin opinions based on what another fan's gateway to the franchise was.
** One tangential gateway for Lupin was the Stern laserdisc arcade game [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc5MKWJ7j6Y]]Cliff Hanger from 1983. It took about 85% Cagliostro footage, 10% from The Mystery of Mamo and bits and pieces from other Lupin movies and turned them into a Dragon's Lair like game.
* At the start of TheNewTens, three shows, thanks to immense critical acclaim, became arguably the biggest catalysts for a revived interest in anime.
** ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' is arguably the first GatewaySeries for the audience in TheNewTens, [[http://wiki.puella-magi.net/Spa_Weekly!_2011-07-19 as its sheer popularity means its fans are often noted intellectuals]]. The problem is it's definitely [[DeconReconSwitch not a good representation]] [[MagicalGirl for its genre]]. Compare the ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' [[UnbuiltTrope example]], above.
** ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' has brought a resurgence of interest in anime and manga to levels almost at the same level as in the early 2000s, etching itself into the forefront of entertainment culture in TheNewTens. Stellar animation, visually distinctive action sequences, a gripping story, and [[AnyoneCanDie a dark premise]] on par with series like ''Series/TheWalkingDead'' and ''Series/GameOfThrones'' have quickly won over a devoted fanbase all over the world. It definitely helps that the series brings a mainstream appeal with its Western setting and characters while eschewing and subverting many of the tropes that outsiders find annoying about anime. [[Memes/AttackOnTitan Not to mention the memes.]]
** ''Anime/KillLaKill'', probably because it was made by the same creators as ''Anime/{{FLCL}}'', ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'', and ''Anime/PantyAndStockingWithGarterbelt'' (under new anime studio ''Creator/StudioTrigger''), has a wacky yet over-the-top animation, fight scenes, plot, and fanservice which has received mostly positive reviews from anime fans and non-anime fans alike. It also helps that this was aired on US television in Creator/{{Toonami}}.
* ''Manga/FruitsBasket'' introduced many people to shojo.
* Anime is notorious for getting a lot of Western fans [[OccidentalOtaku really interested in Japanese culture in general]], up to and including learning the Japanese language.
* As with the Western comics and superhero movies example below, a lot of anime fans get into the manga, light novel and visual novel series their favorite shows are based on. It doesn't hurt that there's already a lot of overlap between manga and anime fandom as it is. Anime adaptions are the main reason why these media have Western interest at all.
* The opening and closing themes to a lot of anime are a GatewaySeries to Japanese music.
* There are a few anime fans on the internet that got interested in Idol Anime (or idols period) thanks to ''Franchise/LoveLive'' and ''VideoGame/TheIdolmaster''.
* Anime and manga are common sources for page images on this very wiki. [[TVTropesAsAGatewayDrug Raise your hand if you've ever checked out a new series because of a page image.]]
* For anime fans, ''Manga/DetectiveConan'' is a gateway series to DetectiveFiction, especially the kind involving [[GreatDetective Great Detectives]].
* ''Manga/SailorMoon'' and its reboot ''Anime/SailorMoonCrystal'' are the main gateway works into MagicalGirlWarrior series, though ''Manga/SallyTheWitch'' is an old gateway series for MagicalGirl works in general. ''Manga/CardcaptorSakura'' is another 90s magical girl series that is a gateway into magical girls. People who grew up in the 2000s often have ''Manga/TokyoMewMew'', ''Anime/OjamajoDoremi'', and ''Manga/ShugoChara'' as their gateways into magical girls, while older fans often got into magical girl series through ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'' and ''Anime/MaiHime''. In the 2010s however ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' is the gateway series into magical girls, but also has an averse effect as many fans of it dislike non-DarkerAndEdgier magical girl series. Rival ''Anime/YukiYunaIsAHero'' is also a mild gateway series as well, often when watched alongside ''Madoka''. In Japan, the ''Franchise/PrettyCure'' anime are consistent gateway series since the mid-2000s but the franchise is [[AmericansHateTingle less popular]] internationally and is usually viewed by people who already like magical girls.
* Sports anime has gone through several gateway series though the ages. ''Manga/HajimeNoIppo'' and ''Manga/AshitaNoJoe'' are old examples and are still popular gateway series for boxing fans. ''Anime/CaptainTsubasa'' is a 90s example for football fans while ''Manga/SlamDunk'' was for basketball fans. In the 2000s ''Manga/BigWindup'', ''Manga/ThePrinceOfTennis'', and ''Manga/{{Eyeshield 21}}'' were gateways in sports anime. The genre received a resurgence in the 2010s with series like ''Manga/{{Haikyuu}}'', ''Manga/DiamondNoAce'', ''Manga/YowamushiPedal'', and ''Manga/KurokoNoBasuke''. ''Anime/{{Free}}'' and ''Anime/YuriOnIce'' are two 2010s series that attracted people to sports anime with their use of CastFullOfPrettyBoys and HomoeroticSubtext.
* ''Anime/OnePunchMan'' often gets recommended as a good anime to show people who don't (know they) like anime. It has a cynical sense of humour that translates well, and focuses on superheroes, a Western genre. The spoofs of {{Tokusatsu}} tropes are done in a way general enough to make sense to anyone who has ever seen ''Series/PowerRangers'' or even ''Series/DoctorWho''.
* ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh'' was a popular gateway series in the 2000s and still gets recommended. It's short, comedic, and its humour isn't "too Japanese" for viewers not accustomed to Japanese works. Unlike a lot of other SchoolgirlSeries, it also isn't quite as full of anime tropes that might be off-putting for newer anime fans.
* ''Anime/YokaiWatch'' is this for non-Japanese people and Japanese mythology, more specifically {{youkai}}.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film]]
* ''Franchise/StarWars'' was a gateway to science fiction for many people when it first came out. It was always a gateway to movie making. How many young kids saw what George did and grabbed an old 8mm Bell&Howell camera in response?
* ''Film/CrouchingTigerHiddenDragon'' was many people's gateway to {{Wuxia}}, or Asian cinema in general.
** ''Film/{{Rashomon}}'' was the first Japanese film to gain critical acclaim and widespread release in the United States, and was many people's (including many future filmmakers) first introduction to Japanese film-making and story techniques and the works of Creator/AkiraKurosawa. Incidentally, Kurosawa was slagged in Japan as this. Within Japan, he was considered a new upstart, and didn't even rank among their best young film-makers but in the West he got WolverinePublicity and the Japanese slagged Kurosawa for being "too Western".
* ''Film/BatmanBegins'' set a standard of believability in ComicBook movies that eclipsed all previous attempts. This was successfully recreated in the ''Film/IronMan'' film and the standard was set once again with ''Film/TheDarkKnight''.
* The first classic films that modern audiences usually see are: ''Film/{{Casablanca}}, Film/SinginInTheRain, Film/ItsAWonderfulLife, Film/TheWizardOfOz, Film/GoneWithTheWind'', or alternatively ''Film/CitizenKane''.
* ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' has gotten plenty of people into {{B movie}}s and the SoBadItsGood aesthetic in general.
* The 2007 ''Film/{{Transformers}}'' movie got a lot of people into the franchise. It is currently enjoying success it hasn't had in nearly 25 years. The toys had original shipping numbers based on the previous line (''Anime/TransformersCybertron''), only to find empty shelves for weeks while they scrambled to meet demands.
** ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'' was a less-drastic but still notable example of the same thing. It goes to show that a good production will [[MerchandiseDriven sell more toys]] than a [[ProductPlacement movie designed to sell toys.]]
* The myriad of Creator/PhilipKDick adaptations (''Film/AScannerDarkly'', ''Film/{{Total Recall|1990}}'',''Film/{{Paycheck}}'', ''Film/BladeRunner'', ''Film/MinorityReport'') and also the Creator/WilliamGibson adaptation/basis of movies like ''Film/JohnnyMnemonic'' or ''Film/StrangeDays'' as an introduction into sci-fi beyond laser beams and space ships.
* While it was much less popular than ''Franchise/StarWars'', and had much less of an effect overall, ''Film/ChildrenOfMen'' apparently served as a gateway to science fiction. For some reason, it wasn't subjected to the SciFiGhetto itself, and its lack of self-conscious "coolness" allowed it to stand as an example of science fiction in general rather than an example of cool action-style sci-fi like ''Franchise/TheMatrix'' or ''Franchise/{{Terminator}}''.
* The ''Franchise/{{Scream}}'' series did a lot to introduce young people in TheNineties to all the older horror movies that it referenced/parodied, to the point where it's credited with singlehandedly [[PopularityPolynomial reviving the genre]] after having been on the low end of the PopularityPolynomial for the better part of the decade.
** And [[TheFifties decades]] [[TheSixties before]] [[TheSeventies that]], late night showings of old Franchise/UniversalHorror movies by TV stations did the same for the baby boomers. To an extent, they still serve as great gateways for younger or more squeamish viewers, since UsefulNotes/TheHaysCode meant that the violence and sex was often minimal.
* Creator/TheCriterionCollection for art house and foreign films and in the [[LongRunner long running]] film review series, ''Series/SiskelAndEbert'', critics Creator/GeneSiskel and Creator/RogerEbert managed to convince at least a few of their viewers to give the [[{{Documentary}} documentaries]], small independent and foreign language films they praised a try.
* To say the ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'' has gotten a ''lot'' of people into reading Creator/MarvelComics is an {{Understatement}}. Superhero films in general have played a large part in bringing comic books to the mainstream. For younger viewers they can also be a gateway to high-profile actors like Creator/PatrickStewart, Creator/IanMcKellen, Creator/SamuelLJackson, Creator/ChristianBale, Creator/RobertDowneyJr, Creator/JKSimmons, Creator/MichaelGambon, Creator/ScarlettJohansson, etc.
* Live-action ''and'' animated kids films can serve as a gateway series to acclaimed actors/comedians [[SoMyKidsCanWatch known more for adult-oriented material]], with the target audience getting more familiar with these works as they get older ([[PeripheryDemographic not that they always wait that long]]).
* The film adaptations of ''[[Film/{{Carrie1976}} Carrie]]'', ''Film/TheShining'', and ''Film/{{Misery}}'', got a lot of people interested in Creator/StephenKing.
* For the ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' movies, ''Film/Godzilla2014'' greatly swelled the number of G-Fans out there since the days of syndicated late-night movies, as it successfully revived Godzilla from his 10-year hiatus and was the first Godzilla movie to appear in US theatres since ''Film/Godzilla2000''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* {{Fantasy}}:
** ''Literature/HarryPotter'' is a big gateway to fantasy novels, especially UrbanFantasy. It has also famously served as a gateway to ''books in general'' for people (children, teenagers and adults) who wouldn't normally read. Some MoralGuardians also think it's a [[EveryoneIsSatanInHell gateway series to witchcraft]], an idea that was spoofed in ''Website/TheOnion'' in an article that [[PoesLaw was sometimes cited by those that didn't get the joke.]]
** ''Literature/LordOfTheRings'': For HighFantasy.
** ''Literature/ChroniclesOfNarnia''
** ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' especially after its [[Series/GameOfThrones TV adaptation premiered]]
** ''Literature/TheBelgariad''
*** The drug metaphor is doubly apt as its own (now sadly deceased) author described it as "the literary equivalent of peddling dope."
** The ''[[Literature/TheWheelOfTime Wheel of Time]]'' was the gateway into the fantasy genre for a lot of nineties teens.
** Many people see the ''Literature/{{Dragonlance}}'' and ''Literature/TheLegendOfDrizzt'' novels as gateways to bigger and better things.
** The ''Literature/{{Earthsea}}'' series is seen as an alternative introduction to fantasy that shows there's more to the genre than white males solving problems with violence.
* ScienceFiction:
** ''Franchise/{{Dune}}''
** ''Literature/{{Hyperion}}''
** ''Literature/{{Foundation}}''
** ''Literature/EndersGame''
** For older preteens and teenagers, ''{{Literature/Animorphs}}'' can be a gateway to StarfishAliens, AlienInvasion, and FirstContact. It can also be a gateway to DarkerAndEdgier fiction since its endorsed by Scholastic, meaning it can be found in many school libraries.
** Creator/SandyMitchell's ''Literature/CiaphasCain'' and Creator/DanAbnett's ''Literature/GauntsGhosts'' novels are good introductions to the ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' Universe; being not quite as {{GRIMDARK}} as the rest, but introducing the concepts and names via genre mixing.
** While still a new series, ''Literature/TheHungerGames'' trilogy has been a gateway series for Dystopian Fiction. Before that, it was ''Literature/{{Nineteeneightyfour}}''.
** ''Literature/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy'', also a gateway into British humor along with Creator/MontyPython.
** The works of classic authors Creator/JulesVerne and Creator/HGWells, and their abridged editions, have long been known for interesting younger readers in common science fiction concepts such as space travel, time travel, alien invasion, secret worlds hidden beneath the Earth's surface.
* {{Romance}}:
** ''Literature/PrideAndPrejudice''
** ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' does serve as a Gateway Series for many young readers to VampireFiction or even reading in general.
** ''Literature/FiftyShadesOfGrey'' is quickly becoming a Gateway Series for erotica, and even getting people into BDSM in RealLife.
* {{Horror}}
** ''Literature/TheShining'' or ''Literature/{{It}}''
** In the 90s, ''Literature/{{Goosebumps}}'' got many kids into reading in general.
* Getting kids into reading in general is the reason SchoolStudyMedia exists.
* {{Xenofiction}}:
** ''Literature/WarriorCats'' is by far the stand-out xenofiction series and is the most popular. It's readily available in many areas and has soft enough mythology (and biological accuracy) not to confuse newcomers.
** ''Literature/WatershipDown'' is traditionally the go-to book and is a TropeCodifier for the genre.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* ''Series/DoctorWho'' can be a gateway series for non-Brits to introduce them to British Telly, British sci-fi, or British culture in general. They may then move on to ''Series/{{Life on Mars|2006}}'' or something similar. Generally anything shown on PBS stations.
** As a sub-example, the Eight Doctor was intended as a gateway for American sci-fi fans to get into Doctor Who without a massive ArchivePanic, but the Ninth Doctor proved to be a much better and more popular entry point.
** And the novelisations in the 70s and 80s served as a gateway into reading for many young fans. Quite a few of whom went on to have successful careers as professional writers in TV, literature, or and/or comics.
** The new series tends to be a good entry point to the Classic stuff, and a line of [=DVD=]s pairing New and Classic stories was even released for this purpose. There are many stories of people who fell in love with Series/DavidTennant, checked out the other new series Doctors, checked out the Classic serial "Genesis of the Daleks", and (some ArchivePanic later) became the sort of person who has very strong opinions about the writing in {{Missing Episode}}s.
* Similarly, ''Series/DowntonAbbey'' might be to British Costume Drama what ''Doctor Who'' is to British Sci-Fi. ''Downton'' has become something of a surprise sleeper hit on American PBS stations. While ''Doctor Who'' might lead people to ''Series/{{Being Human|UK}}'' and ''Series/{{Merlin 2008}}'', ''Downton'' might lead them to the new ''Series/UpstairsDownstairs'' and ''Series/TheHour.''
* ''Series/StargateSG1'' is an excellent show for getting people into sci-fi shows, with it involving modern day soldiers in a variety of settings and starting off with more of an action feel, before going deeper into the sci-fi.
** To a lesser extent, ''Series/StargateUniverse'' has attracted people previously uninterested in the Franchise/{{Stargate|Verse}} mythos to the franchise. Tycho of ''Webcomic/PennyArcade'' [[http://www.penny-arcade.com/2010/9/29/ wrote something to the effect of]] "I really didn't know much about Stargate other than that there are gates and they somehow involved stars but I like this show and am now interested."
* ''Series/TokusouSentaiDekaranger'' is a gateway series for those who entered Sentai fandom earlier than [[Series/JukenSentaiGekiranger Gekiranger]].
** This is because ''Deka'' was the first ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' series to be subbed in its entirety.
** And if it wasn't ''Deka'' it was ''Series/SamuraiSentaiShinkenger,'' since it came along right around the time most fans though that ''Power Rangers'' was going to be cancelled for good, and started looking elsewhere. ''Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger'' did this as well, especially because of the sheer awesomeness.
** Also, ''Series/HikoninSentaiAkibaranger'' is this for those growing up on just Anime and/or Franchise/PowerRangers.
* Your average western [[{{tokusatsu}} toku]] fan's story goes a little something like this: "Gee, I sure did like Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers when I was little! So wait, it's actually an adaptation of [[Series/KyoryuSentaiZyuranger a Japanese show]]? I think I'll check it out- wow, this sure is a good show!" And it goes on from there.
* A popular gateway series to ''Franchise/KamenRider'' is ''Series/KamenRiderDenO''. Only ''Series/KamenRiderDecade'' and ''Series/KamenRiderDouble'' are like ''Den-O'' so it's not especially representative of ''Kamen Rider''.
** A more representative example for ''Franchise/KamenRider'' would be ''Series/KamenRiderRyuki'', as many of the trends and tropes used in modern Rider series were first used in Ryuki.
** Meanwhile, ''Series/KamenRiderV3'' can easily qualify as one to the various Showa-era series, due to being the only entry to get a legitimate R1 release.
** ''Series/KamenRiderGaim'' also has a reputation of bringing in new fans, particularly because of Creator/GenUrobuchi being the show runner.
* Odds are that if you ask someone who got into ''Franchise/UltraSeries'' during the Heisei era what their first show was, if it wasn't the one that was currently airing at the time they got into the franchise, they'll tell you it was ''Series/UltramanTiga'' - partially due to the fact that it's one of the few series that has been shown on US television, thanks to a GagDub courtesy of Creator/FourKidsEntertainment. For older fans, it's usually the Creator/UnitedArtists TV-distributed dub of the original ''Series/{{Ultraman}}'' done by Peter Fernandez and his ''Anime/SpeedRacer'' crew, which aired on many US television channels in FirstRunSyndication until the 1980s.
* If it weren't for ''Franchise/StarTrek'' there probably wouldn't be half as many sci fi nerds as there are now. In fact, there probably wouldn't be as many people in the space industry.
* ''Series/{{Skins}}'' was also a gateway series to British Shows like ''Series/{{Misfits}}'' and ''Series/TheInbetweeners''.
* ''Series/IronChef'' was a gateway series on two levels, one for the CookingShow genre and two, for Japanese Game Shows in general.
* ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' can be this for those who don't know or didn't pay any attention to Creator/JossWhedon, particularly those who were a little too young to be into ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' in its heyday and/or are turned off from the whole vampire thing by [[Literature/{{Twilight}} other franchises]].
* ''Series/{{Rescue 911}}'' has been this to Crime, Survival, and rescue shows. Not to mention, a couple people who watched the show in TheNineties were inspired in part by this show to become Police officers, firefighters, emergency dispatchers, and paramedics.
* ''Series/BabylonFive'' seemed to attract a certain segment of viewers who weren't otherwise sci-fi fans.
* ''Series/{{JAG}}'' is a combination of a MilitaryAndWarfareTelevision and LawProcedural, so it could be argued that it may serve as a gateway to either genre.
* ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'', ''Series/MrBean'', ''Series/{{Blackadder}}'' and ''Series/FawltyTowers'' to British comedy in general.
* ''Series/{{QI}}'' frequently serves as an introduction to the concept of the British PanelShow for non-Brits, being one of the most popular and acclaimed of the genre.
* In the 90's, Nickelodeon dived heavily into GenreRoulette, with an incredibly diverse and varied collection of live-action programming that spanned almost every conceivable genre. For kids who grew up during that time, something on Nickelodeon probably served as a kid-friendly gateway to your genre of choice, ranging from sitcoms (''Series/ClarissaExplainsItAll'', ''Series/TheAdventuresOfPeteAndPete'',) sketch comedy (''Series/YouCantDoThatOnTelevision'',) mystery (''Series/TheMysteryFilesOfShelbyWoo'',) sci-fi (''Series/TheTomorrowPeople,'' ''Series/SpaceCases'',) even horror (''Series/AreYouAfraidOfTheDark'')
* ''Series/BoysBeforeFlowers'' is known for being one of the most popular {{Korean Drama}}s and introducing many western fans to the genre.
* ''Series/{{Thunderbirds}}'' is by far the most popular show in the Creator/GerryAnderson canon, and has introduced countless fans to the rest of his shows.
** As the first puppet show by Creator/GerryAnderson in over 15 years, ''Series/{{Terrahawks}}'' was a similar gateway series to many 80's kids.
* ''Series/TheHardyBoysNancyDrewMysteries'' in the UsefulNotes/TheSeventies was an enticement for young viewers to try out not only the novels of the Creator/StratemeyerSyndicate, but also reading fiction in the novel format in general.
* ''Series/{{Dramaland}}'' serves as a good jumping off point for the world of Korean drama, starring an American protagonist, having the characters [[ConversationalTroping explain K-drama-exclusive tropes]] to each other as plot points, and featuring plenty of gorgeous Korean men and tongue-in-cheek humour. The fact that a lot of the tropes are ones familiar to Western viewers from American-style SoapOpera helps keep it accessible.
* Reality series ''Series/ProjectRunway'' has gotten a lot of people interested in fashion design, and ''Series/AmericasNextTopModel'' has done the same with fashion modeling.

[[folder:Music]]
* Music/{{Devo}} is a definite gateway into '80s SynthPop, {{New Wave|Music}} and PunkRock.
* With the help of Website/YouTube, Straight No Chaser and their [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28GUU1YbP_E humorous renditon of "The 12 Days of Christmas"]] make a nice gateway into ACappella groups such as the Clef Hangers.
** Not to mention Rockapella's appearances on ''Series/WhereInTheWorldIsCarmenSandiego'', probably the first exposure many had to ''a cappella'' groups in the '90s.
** Since Woodstock and through much of the '80s, Sha Na Na occupied the same position as gateway group to ''a cappella'' singing, sharing it with Music/TheManhattanTransfer. Which group was your gateway primarily depended on your age and whether your preferred musical style was doo-wop rock-and-roll or swing/jazz.
** In the '60s and early '70s it was The Swingle Singers.
** The movie ''Film/PitchPerfect'' is one for mainstream audiences.
* The music composed for shows such as ''Series/DoctorWho'' or ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|2003}}'' can be a gateway for more classical music and famous composers.
* ElectronicMusic has had many different artists from different genres that have served as this across the years.
** For many, Music/DaftPunk have been a gateway band for a good part of the 90s and 00s.
** Similarly, Music/AphexTwin is one of the most well-known {{ambient}} artists in the world, and is often the first one people listen to before exploring other artists.
** Music/{{Skrillex}} is widely credited for being the gateway artist for {{Dubstep}}. In fact, dubstep in general is often credited by American EDM fans as the genre that got them into electronic music, contributing to the massive EDM boom of TheNewTens.
** Music/ArminVanBuuren and his [[LongRunners long running]] radio show A State of Trance served as the gateway for {{trance}}.
* Music/GreenDay, Music/{{Nirvana}}, Music/TheOffspring, [=AgainstMe=]! and NOFX are all punk bands who, though derided for going "mainstream", often act as Gateways to more underground and DIY punk rock.
* Music/ThePolice has served as a gateway for {{New Wave|Music}} and '80s rock in general.
* Some of the more mainstream NuMetal bands like Music/LinkinPark, Music/{{Slipknot}}, and Music/{{Korn}}, while not particularly heavy (though heavy enough to be metal), have served as good Gateways to much heavier and varied subgenres of the heavy metal musical umbrella.
** And on that note, bands like Music/{{Metallica}}, Music/{{Megadeth}}, Music/{{Anthrax}}, Music/{{Slayer}}, Music/BlackSabbath, Music/JudasPriest, Music/IronMaiden and Music/DreamTheater tend to be common gateway bands into more obscure or specific subgenres of metal. A lot of people tend to get into metal through Music/AliceInChains, too.
** Msuic/SystemOfADown are a gateway band in metal, especially for people getting into death metal, noise metal, folk metal, and punk metal.
*** With ''[[BreakthroughHit Toxicity]]'', the band could also be credited with making many of the more conservative metal fans less skeptic about alternative/nu-metal.
** Some songs of Music/{{Nightwish}} and Music/WithinTemptation making it into the pop music charts made and make some people interested in SymphonicMetal, if not Metal in general.
** Music/OzzyOsbourne's solo career acted as a gateway to Music/BlackSabbath and to metal in general in the early 2000s, when other (proper) metal had a hard stand in the world of music.
** Because of VideoGame/GuitarHero, Music/{{Dragonforce}} was definitely some kids' first Power Metal band.
** Getting into death metal? It's probably through one of the following: Music/CannibalCorpse, Music/{{Death}}, Music/MorbidAngel, Music/{{Carcass}}, Music/{{Behemoth}}, or Music/TheBlackDahliaMurder. If you started with thrash, the first four (plus Music/{{Obituary}}, Music/{{Deicide}}, and Music/{{Entombed}}) are more likely, whereas people who started with metalcore or deathcore are more likely to cite the latter two (as well as Music/{{Suffocation}}, Music/DyingFetus, and Music/JobForACowboy).
* Pendulum is this for DrumAndBass. Although before them, there was Music/{{Goldie}}.
* Music/TheProdigy brought an audience of [[AlternativeRock alties]] in TheNineties to electronic dance music in general, thanks to being just harsh enough to appeal to them while maintaining their electronic roots.
* ''VideoGame/AceCombatZeroTheBelkanWar'''s usage of Hispanic-styled music has led many to look into the style.
* Music/{{Enya}} serves a gateway to both Celtic music and New Age music.
* Music/{{Nirvana}}, and to a lesser extent Music/PearlJam, serve as a gateway to grunge at first, and then to alternative music in general. Sometimes this also leads to non-mainstream music of other genres in general. Music/KurtCobain in particular has drawn more attention to Music/DanielJohnston by wearing a ''Music/HiHowAreYou'' shirt. Covering songs by artists like Music/TheVaselines, Music/MeatPuppets, Music/{{Leadbelly}} on Nirvana's ''Music/MTVUnpluggedInNewYork'' also brought a whole audience to these artists.
* Music/JoyDivision is often a gateway to all kinds of '70s and '80s punk, post-punk and goth bands.
* Music/PinkFloyd have become this for ProgressiveRock, due to their relative accessibility compared with most prog bands. Music/{{Yes}}, Music/{{Genesis}} and Music/{{Rush}} are also common gateways for the same reason.
* Music/RedHotChiliPeppers are a gateway into {{funk}} for many people. So are Music/TalkingHeads. Music/GeorgeClinton and Parliament-Funkadelic are another BIG gateway into funk, as is Music/JamesBrown, the Godfather of Soul himself.
* Music/BobMarley and The Wailers are the usual gateway into {{Reggae}} and dub. Also, they've covered many songs from the mento, calypso, soul, {{doowop}}, funk and African genres which means that hearing the originals can often attract people to those genres as well.
* Music/TheClash are a gateway into many genres such as punk, rock and roll, reggae and dub.
* Music/{{Jamiroquai}}'s early work in the acid jazz style is a gateway into Latin jazz.
* Many rap musicians who sample from groove and jazz records find this, Music/DelThaFunkeeHomosapien, Grand Puba, Digable Planets and Music/ATribeCalledQuest for instance all sample from Funk and Jazz records which often leads to people finding the origins of the samples.
* Chances are, if someone was born and raised in America and is a fan of any or all metal from Germany, Music/{{Rammstein}} is responsible.
** Unless you were around in TheEighties; in which case, it was probably Music/{{Accept}} or Music/{{Scorpions}}.
* Music/{{Japan}} (the band) and their solo work are known for introducing people to piano music such as Music/ErikSatie as well as Japanese music such as Music/YellowMagicOrchestra. Sylvian's solo work also is a gateway into the ambient and new age genres.
* Outside of Japan, ''Anime/{{FLCL}}'' could be considered a gateway series for the music of Music/ThePillows, and Japanese alternative and indie rock music as a whole.
* Due to the band's brief American pop radio success in the mid-2000s, Music/ModestMouse were a gateway band into the world of indie rock for many future fans of the genre.
* Any time a song is used in a movie/TV show/game/etc., it gets people into that song or band.
* Mumford & Sons is a gateway to the British Folk genre, and in turn indie music. Coldplay can also be considered a gateway into indie music.
** Perhaps the best example of the last DECADE is "Kids" from ''Music/OracularSpectacular'' by Music/{{MGMT}}. Without that, songs like "1901" by Phoenix and "Pumped Up Kicks" by Music/FosterThePeople would not become popular. Both this and the above example of Mumford led to Music/{{Adele}} having a worldwide smash and Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know" hitting number one for weeks and weeks.
* Music/MilesDavis for {{jazz}} in general; ''Music/KindOfBlue'' in particular, but also, due to his many {{Genre Shift}}s and enormous fame, for a number of jazz subgenres, including cool jazz, hard bop, post-bop, and fusion.
** By virtue of the ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'' specials, especially ''WesternAnimation/ACharlieBrownChristmas'', there is the music of Music/VinceGuaraldi.
** The soundtrack for ''Anime/CowboyBebop'' has lead many to discover similar jazz and bebop music elsewhere, as well as other works from Music/YokoKanno.
* For many in TheNineties, Music/ScatmanJohn was a gateway to [[{{Scatting}} scat singing]].
* Music/{{Radiohead}}, thanks to their incredibly successful fusion of icy post-modern electronica and grungy alternative rock, can be a gateway to Music/BoardsOfCanada, Music/AphexTwin, Music/{{Autechre}}, and other electronic artists for fans of Music/ThreeChordsAndTheTruth who might have otherwise written off electronic music as 'fake' or boring.
* Music/{{Eminem}} for hip hop/rap music. Being the most successful rapper, and an abnormality due to people's preconceptions of skin color with rap music, probably has something to do with it.
** Music/KanyeWest as well, thanks to the critical acclaim he's garnered.
** Long before either of them, though, there was Music/PublicEnemy and Music/{{NWA}}.
** In TheEighties, it was probably Music/RunDMC or the Music/BeastieBoys.
* 3oh!3 is the most successful crunkcore artist for better or worse, so naturally it's safe to assume they're a gateway...
* Chances are Miku Hatsune will be your first experience with Music/{{Vocaloid}}.
* Music/TheBeatles:
** For listeners who don't remember the 1960s (for reasons ''other'' than drugs), Music/TheBeatles can function as a gateway band for music of that decade and "oldies" in general.
** Music/TheBeatles also made many people across the world aware of traditional Indian music, thanks to songs like [[Music/RubberSoul "Norwegian Wood"]], [[Music/{{Revolver}} "Love You To"]] and [[Music/SgtPeppersLonelyHeartsClubBand "Within You Without You"]]. Music/GeorgeHarrison's association with Music/RaviShankar also made the musician more famous in the West. Not to mention the fact that the band going to India and invoking South East Asian culture and mythology in their lyrics also made many Westerners familiar with it.
** ''Music/SgtPeppersLonelyHeartsClubBand'' has been shown to be a good intro to AvantGardeMusic; the production is psychedelic and weird, but the actual songs are accessible pop, based on an aesthetic TwoDecadesBehind and sounded comforting and nostalgic even at the time. It's especially good for children, since the lyrical content is [[SugarBowl whimsical]] rather than DarkerAndEdgier or TrueArtIsIncomprehensible like a lot of the other experimental rock of that time - even the HigherUnderstandingThroughDrugs references are limited to DoubleEntendre. Many a 10-year old fell in love with ''Pepper'', then moved on to ''Music/PetSounds'', and then went to decidedly spicy freak music like ''Music/TroutMaskReplica'', ''Music/LickMyDecalsOffBaby'', ''Music/TheMadcapLaughs'' and ''Music/{{Barrett}}''.
** The Beatles can also serve as a gateway for BubblegumMusic, if you want to go LighterAndSofter instead of DarkerAndEdgier. Bubblegum historian Bill Pitzonka, when asked how he got into the genre, said:
-->I got into The Beatles. And then... instead of most people going from The Beatles to [[Music/TheRollingStones The Stones]] to [[Music/LedZeppelin Zep]], Music/TheDoors, I went from The Beatles to Music/TheMonkees to Music/TheArchies to Music/TheCowsills.
* Music/TheBeachBoys for [[TheSixties '60s]] pop; ''Music/PetSounds'' for BaroquePop as well.
* Music/TheRollingStones covered so many blues standards that many rock fans discovered {{Blues}} acts like Music/MuddyWaters, Elmore James, and Music/RobertJohnson thanks to them.
** The Brian Jones-produced ''Music/BrianJonesPresentsThePipesOfPanAtJajouka'' introduced many rock fans to traditional Moroccan folk music.
** This seems to be much of the purpose behind the "British Blues" scene and much of UsefulNotes/TheBritishInvasion rock in general -- to expose rock fans to blues, folk, jazz and early rock influences (African-American especially) by basically incorporating it into a more contemporary rock or rock-friendly electric blues style.
** ''Film/TheBluesBrothers'' and its sequel has lead many film-goers to seek out blues, gospel, folk, and older pop music.
* If you're a rock fan who got into country, Gram Parsons is most likely responsible. Alternatively, Music/JohnnyCash, thanks to the ''American Recordings'' albums.
** Pop fans getting into country may have had crossover acts like Music/ShaniaTwain, Music/TaylorSwift or Music/CarrieUnderwood to thank.
* Music/BBKing, as the King of Blues.
** Alternatively, Music/HowlinWolf for the more "down home" but "heavy electric" brand of blues -- or Jimmy Reed for the more "gentle" but still "heavy electric" brand of blues.
* Music/JustinBieber has created a massive resurgence of teen pop. While many Bieberesque singers and boy bands started their careers after his took off, only one such act has had comparable success to Bieber: Music/OneDirection (and by extension their members' solo careers).
* Music/NineInchNails for IndustrialMetal.
* Music/{{Jellyfish}}, Music/CheapTrick or Music/BigStar for PowerPop.
** Due to Jellyfish's tendency to wear their myriad influences on their sleeves, it can equally be a GatewaySeries for BaroquePop, [[TheSixties '60s]] or [[TheSeventies '70s]] pop, AlternativeRock, UsefulNotes/TheBritishInvasion music, vintage [[IdolSinger bubblegum pop]], even obscure influences like Music/HenryMancini or Music/HugoMontenegro. Certain SingerSongwriter musicians like Music/HarryNilsson or Music/RandyNewman seemed to be strong influences on the band as well.
** Cheap Trick's distinctive style was influential on many different genres of music over their career, from HairMetal, {{New Wave|Music}}, {{Grunge}}, PopPunk, and ArenaRock, and could have lately served as a gateway to one or more of those styles.
* Music/CocteauTwins for DreamPop; Music/MyBloodyValentine, Music/{{Slowdive}}, Music/{{Ride}}, Music/{{Lush}}, Music/CatherineWheel, Music/KitchensOfDistinction, Music/TheBooRadleys and Music/PaleSaints for {{Shoegazing}}.
* Music/{{Jawbreaker}}, Music/SunnyDayRealEstate, Music/{{Weezer}}, Music/{{Thursday}}, Music/HawthorneHeights, and Music/{{Aiden}} for {{Emo|Music}}.
* Music/{{Blur}}, Music/{{Oasis}}, Music/{{Pulp}} and Music/{{Suede}} for {{Britpop}}.
* Music/JohnWilliams is a common gateway into both film soundtracks and classical music. His soundtrack for ''Franchise/StarWars'' frequently appears on lists of essential classical music recordings for new classical fans.
* Music/LanaDelRey and Music/{{Lorde}} for IndiePop.
* Music/FrankZappa has led many people to discover Music/CaptainBeefheart, by having the singer appear on records like ''Music/HotRats'' and ''Music/BongoFury'' and producing ''Music/TroutMaskReplica''. Zappa also made his audience appreciate modern classical music, especially dissonant works. If you listen a lot to his albums, you're bound to be able to enjoy listening to difficult composers like Music/EdgardVarese, Music/IgorStravinsky, Music/ArnoldSchoenberg, Music/KarlheinzStockhausen, Alban Berg, Anton Webern better, because you are more used to this experimental sound.
* Music/RyCooder's collaborations with Music/AliFarkaToure and Music/BuenaVistaSocialClub made those local artists more famous worldwide.
* Jazz fusion artists, including ''Music/BitchesBrew''-era Music/MilesDavis, Music/PatMetheny, Jaco Pastorious, Music/WeatherReport and Music/JoniMitchell's mid-late '70s albums, introduced a lot of rock fans to jazz.
* Lots of ProgressiveRock fans get into classical and jazz music. It's not surprising given that many prog musicians are steeped in these genres. It also goes the other way. Plenty of classical and jazz snobs have gotten a toehold into rock through prog.
* Video game soundtracks are a major gateway into classical music for younger listeners, to the point where many symphonies now regularly hold concerts with video game music.
* Creator/NobuoUematsu in particular, with his extensive work on the ''Final Fantasy'' series, his love of using leitmotif, and the acclaim his music has garnered in all forms, is a common entry point.
* Music/BabyMetal can be seen as gateway series for introducing metal fans to j-pop (or vice versa).
* The Sugarcubes, Music/{{Bjork}} and Music/SigurRos are all major gateways into Icelandic rock and pop music.
* When it comes to Christian rock, Music/{{Skillet}} and Music/{{Red}} are two gateways amongst rock fans who normally are averse to the genre. NotChristianRock bands like Music/{{Flyleaf}} also help.
* Music/DavidBowie: His ''Music/LetsDance'' album and persona was an era of very accessible commercial pop that can be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys 80s hits, serving as a gateway to his weirder stuff like The Thin White Duke, the musical theatre soundtrack album for a musical that never existed, and the time he was pretending to be an alien.
** Bowie also earned a lot of fans from his role as Jareth in ''Film/{{Labyrinth}}'', due to the film being aimed at children who weren't old enough to understand all the Nietzsche references, cocaine and experimental content in his music. Eventually, those children grew up and checked out his back catalogue.
* Music/LudwigVanBeethoven's most popular pieces such as "Für Elise", the "Moonlight Sonata", "Ode to Joy" and the Fifth Symphony have convinced many a listener to explore more ClassicalMusic. It helps that Beethoven is perhaps the best-known composer in popular culture ([[Film/{{Beethoven}} movies about Saint Bernard's]] notwithstanding), so he's a logical starting place.

[[folder:New Media]]
* [[Wiki/TVTropes Look no further than the very website which you happen to be browsing]] at this [[TVTropesWillRuinYourLife (probably) late hour.]] How many books, TV shows, etc. were ''you'' blissfully unaware of before coming here but [[TVTropesAsAGatewayDrug now have a sudden unrequited urge to experience?]]
* WebAnimation/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 ''Volvic'' mineral water, ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' and since the rise of the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwoOWTABYbk #71519 fad]] to ''WesternAnimation/TheCritic''.
* [[FanVid AMVs and fanvids]] in general.
* [[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/ThatGuyWithTheGlasses. (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.)
* If you didn't get into Franchise/TheSlenderManMythos through WebVideo/MarbleHornets, you probably got into it through Creepypasta or the PC game.
* 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. And don't even get us started on the [[ColbertBump publicity]] he's given to all of the obscure games he's covered..

[[folder:Pinball]]
* ''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.
* 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.

[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
* 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.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Radio]]
* 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.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Software]]
* 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=].
* 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.
* If you have taken a web design class, chances are that you've familiarized yourself with HTML(Hyper Text Markup Language)
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* After UsefulNotes/TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983, people thought gaming was dead... but then enters ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' bundled with the [=NES=]...
** Related to it, practically everyone got into {{Platform Game}}s due to ''Mario'' and ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog''.
** For PC gamers, ''VideoGame/CommanderKeen'' or ''VideoGame/JillOfTheJungle'' is likely to take this role.
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' was a gateway {{RPG}} for a lot of players -- to the detriment of the genre, some might argue. And it doubled as a bit of a gateway introduction to anime as well.
** It was also a gateway to [=PlayStation=] games in general.
** The ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' series as a whole can be considered a gateway to [=RPGs=].
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'' is a a very good introductory RPG too.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyMysticQuest'' was deliberately designed to be a gateway to [=RPGs=], simplifying the gameplay dramatically. Unforunately, not only did it fail to attract the mainstream as expected, but RPG fans derided the game [[ItsEasySoItSucks for being extremely easy]] [[ClicheStorm and formulaic.]]
** Tim Schafer's ''VideoGame/CostumeQuest'' is extremely short and easy because it was meant to introduce very young children to [=RPGs=].
* The ''Franchise/BaldursGate'' series, the ''Franchise/MassEffect'' series, and the ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' series frequently serve as gateways to the WesternRPG genre. ''The Elder Scrolls'' likewise doubles as a WideOpenSandbox gateway.
* Not only can ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' count as a gateway to anime, it's also a gateway to the {{Mons}} genre and to some extent to [=RPGs=] and hardcore gaming in general.
* Many games designed by Creator/{{Nintendo}} for the DS, Wii, and [=WiiU=] were intended to be gateway videogames for people who never tried them before -- like ''VideoGame/WiiSports'', ''VideoGame/{{Nintendogs}}'', ''VideoGame/EliteBeatAgents'', ''VideoGame/NintendoLand'', and so on.
** Nintendo has the reputation of being the video game company that makes games to introduce people to video games who never played them before, something that the company openly states being their goal. Of course, some people [[AccentuateTheNegative don't say it like that]]. It's hard to fault Nintendo when they're clearly getting results -- games and systems, Nintendo and otherwise, are selling better than they ever have even in the economic recession.
** In fact, let's just say [[CasualVideoGame Casual Games]] in general, though there can also be Gateway Games for certain ''types'' of Casual Games as well (e.g. ''Videogame/DinerDash'' for time management games).
* The entries of the ''VideoGame/TotalWar'' series are all pretty likely ways that various gamers got interested in specific periods of history ([[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers Or]] ''{{TabletopGame/Warhammer}}'')
* The ''Tony Hawk'' games are a two-way gateway -- they've gotten a lot of skaters into gaming, but it's when they get gamers into skateboarding that HilarityEnsues.
* The ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' series has a wide variety of Nintendo characters, and some players might become more interested in the individual series if they see a character they'd never heard of before. [[MarthDebutedInSmashBros The appearance of Marth and Roy in Melee for example]], led to the introduction of the ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' series to the US.
** ''Brawl'' and ''Wii U'' even have unlockable demos of several of the characters' starring games.
** The Smash series as a whole serves as a gateway for the fighting games, specifically the MascotFighter genre due to its easy controls.
* This is the intention behind the ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'' series. The games are easy enough that someone who has never played an {{action|Game}} {{platform|Game}}er before can get through the main game and see the ending, but at the same time offer extra challenges for older gamers seeking HundredPercentCompletion. Many of these fans then go on to play other games in the genre.
* A variation of this trope: a lot of people become regular readers of Website/GameFAQs after getting stuck in GuideDangIt moments.
* New installments of long-time series such as ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'' -- espeically ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaSymphonyOfTheNight'' -- tend to be gateways for modern players into the world of retro gaming, especially those curious about references to characters from previous games.
** If not into the world of retro gaming, then certainly the world of metroidvanias.
* "People who don't like video games like ''VideoGame/{{Myst}}''."
* ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' is the most infamously addictive MMORPG out there nowadays, but those who have played it and quit often try to seek out other MMO's afterward.
** Related: For some kids, ''VideoGame/RuneScape'' has acted as a gateway to ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft''.
* Each generation seems to have its own gateway into the Multiplayer FirstPersonShooter genre:
** One of the earliest was ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}''.
** From the late [=90s=] came ''VideoGame/HalfLife'' and ''VideoGame/CounterStrike''.
** ''Franchise/{{Halo}}''. In particular, ''VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved'', being a launch title for the Xbox, was the first FPS many gamers ever played. It's argued that ''Halo'' was the killer app that allowed the Xbox to compete in its early days against the wildly successful Playstation 2. So that's gotta count for something.
** Later, both ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'' and ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' became insanely popular examples.
* ''VideoGame/{{Thief}}'', a stealth simulator, was marketed as a big new twist on the overinflated FirstPersonShooter genre. It got quite a few action gamers interested in stealth games.
* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' served an almost identical function to ''Thief'' on an entirely different system. Also, due to its slow-paced gameplay, its focus on storytelling and the ability of the player to [[TalkingIsAFreeAction pause the action to talk to the other characters about trivial things]], it also makes a great gateway series for people raised on {{JRPG}}s trying to break into {{Action Game}}s.
** Though it's rather complex for someone who has never touched a controller before, ''MGS'' has also been promoted as a counterargument to people who believe in the Video Game Ghetto--IE, that the terms "video game" and "true art" are mutually exclusive.
* If you stick around the ''VideoGame/DanceDanceRevolution'' community long enough, you may come to try out other {{Rhythm Game}}s -- up until the release of ''VideoGame/GuitarHero'', this would be things like ''VideoGame/{{beatmania}} IIDX'' and ''Dance [=ManiaX=]''.
** Although for a lot of people it now works the other way around, with ''VideoGame/GuitarHero'' or ''VideoGame/RockBand'' being the gateway game that leads them to discover ''VideoGame/DanceDanceRevolution''.
*** This can also work across media -- ''Guitar Hero'' and ''Rock Band'' inspire people to buy and get into music from the games.
*** These two games can also turn people on to real instruments. HilarityEnsues when they realize a real guitar's nothing like the plastic controller.
** Of course, neither of these games would have been possible if ''VideoGame/ParappaTheRapper'' hadn't opened up the world of rhythm gaming to start.
*** For people who play {{Rhythm Game}}s without the hand for ''Guitar Hero'' or ''Rock Band'', ''Parappa the Rapper'' and ''VideoGame/RhythmHeaven'' are both known to turn people into rhythm fanatics less on the instrument/physical side, and more on the technical/mental side.
** As of TheNewTens, ''VideoGame/SoundVoltex'' is this for new ''BEMANI'' fans, thanks to its low barrier to entry, wide selection of doujin music (including ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' arranges and Music/{{Vocaloid}} songs), cool-looking interface, and use of filter effects to give the player the impression of mixing a track in real time.
* ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' does this for 2D fighting games. The series is relatively user friendly and easy to pick up and play, leading many in more complicated games like ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear''.
** ''VideoGame/{{Tekken 3}}'' was extremely influential on the popularity of 3D fighting games, and ''VideoGame/SoulCalibur'' was this for weapon-based games.
* Play one addictive puzzle game, and you're bound to wind up hunting for more. ''VideoGame/{{Peggle}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Tetris}}'' are good examples.
* Many gamers' first RealTimeStrategy game was ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}} II'', and for good reason, too. The graphics are nice to look at, the mechanics are fairly simple compared to other RTS games, and most importantly, it's a lot of fun (including against your friends, even if they do kick your butt in 95% of the games you play with them).
** If your first RTS wasn't ''Warcraft II'', then it was probably ''VideoGame/StarCraftI''.
** ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberianDawn'' and ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert'' are also common gateways.
** As is ''VideoGame/AgeOfEmpiresII''.
* The ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' series can potentially be a good GatewaySeries for many GiantRobot {{Anime}}, considering that the plot for each game basically takes the plot of every series involved in the MassiveMultiplayerCrossover and shoves them all together.
* The Creator/HumongousEntertainment games were designed to be like this.
* Although ''VideoGame/{{Rogue}}'' was, by definition, the first {{Roguelike}}, many fans of the genre get their start with the TropeCodifier, ''VideoGame/NetHack'', leading into more difficult games like ''VideoGame/{{Angband}}'', and a greater acceptance for ASCII games in general.
** ''VideoGames/{{Powder}}'' and ''VideoGame/ShirenTheWanderer'' are good gateway roguelikes for those discouraged by the complexity (and ASCII-ness) of ''VideoGame/NetHack'' and company.
** For people who are newer to the rogue-like genre, ''VideoGame/DungeonsOfDredmor'' and 'VideoGame/TheBindingOfIsaac'' have eased people into the generally rather NintendoHard genre of rogue-likes, due to the inclusion of full graphics (that is, it's not text- or ASCII-based).
* ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' has introduced many a gamer to the wonderful world of BulletHell shmups, though learning about their existence is as far as many ''Touhou'' fans go; it's rare to see a fan of ''Touhou'' try out other danmaku games. It's also a gateway into doujin games.
** For some people, ''[[VideoGame/DonPachi DoDonPachi]]'', ''Batsgun'' or ''VideoGame/BattleGaregga'', especially if they play arcade games a lot.
*** Actually, ''Do Don Pachi'' is the TropeCodifier for BulletHell, while ''Batsgun'' is the TropeMaker.
* Although two games predate it (in America, at least), ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'' was the GatewaySeries to ''VideoGame/TalesSeries'' for a lot of Western fans. It being one of the better [=RPGs=] on the [=GameCube=] meant that it drew a lot of attention from people who had previously dismissed the previous games in the series. Also, ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'' to an extent, purely because it was for the [=PS2=].
* Quite a few people have been introduced to either the First-Person Shooter genre, PC gaming, or both by way of ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2''.
** Thanks to [=TF2=] being Creator/{{Valve|Software}}'s top-selling and most successful product, it has also gotten countless people who hadn't played Valve's other games into those games. ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'' has done the same.
* Sakevisual, the artist of ''VisualNovel/REAlistair'', wants her game [[http://sakevisual.blogspot.com/2010/06/eight-reasons-why-you-should-plug-re.html to become a gateway series]] for fans who don't yet know about [[RomanceGame otome games]].
* InteractiveFiction started the AdventureGame genre, but many felt it to be too inaccessible. The move to graphic adventures was fairly rapid, but despite some awesome games like ''VideoGame/KingsQuest'' and ''VideoGame/ManiacMansion'' they remained a niche genre for several years. Then Creator/LucasArts (at the time still a strict part of Lucasfilm) went and made a game called ''VideoGame/{{Loom}}'', one of the most accessible adventure games ever created. This created a veritable explosion in the PC adventure game market, which ended almost a decade later. And for those who were not yet fully convinced, Lucas Arts followed the left punch with the right soon thereafter, giving us the most famous PC Adventure Game ever created, ''VideoGame/TheSecretOfMonkeyIsland''.
* ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'' or ''VideoGame/{{Persona 5}}'' are good start for those interested in the ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' series, seeing how they're generally considered the most accessible of ''SMT'' games (except for ''Persona 3'', whose [=PS2=] versions were very rare for a while, until it was brought to PSN). In fact, the original ''VideoGame/{{Persona}}'' was designed to be an easier SMT in hopes of getting more teenagers interested in the main series.
* ''VideoGame/TheSims'', with its broad market appeal, was many people's gateway to videogaming in general.
* ''Franchise/{{Kingdom Hearts}}'' got a lot of people who had not yet played ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' into the series, as well as garnering interest in any Disney film the player might not have seen yet.
* ''VideoGame/PokerNightAtTheInventory'' got a lot of ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' fans into ''VideoGame/SamAndMaxFreelancePolice'', ''Webcomic/PennyArcade'' and ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner''.
** ''VideoGame/PokerNight2'' seems to be doing the same for ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'' and ''Franchise/EvilDead''.
* ''VideoGame/IWannaBeTheGuy'' was basically a ton of video game worlds mashed together into one giant NintendoHard experience. While the areas and bosses are generally well known (except for the final boss, an original character) some of the music is a little more obscure, like the Castle of the Guy theme being from ''[[VideoGame/MontyMole Monty on the Run]]'' and the theme for the Final Tower of the Guy and the final boss's first form being from ''VideoGame/EVOSearchForEden.'' This game opened games like those up to more players.
* The ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}}'' series is a frequent gateway to the strategy genre, particularly the TurnBasedStrategy and FourX subgenres.
* The ''VideoGame/SegaSuperstars[=/=]All-Stars'' series has helped gain new fans for old Sega franchises.
* ''VideoGame/BrutalLegend'' introduced younger gaming audiences to a plethora of music they might not have known or shown interest in before, leading newcomers to the genre of HeavyMetal.
* ''VideoGame/{{Braid}}'' served as a gateway into independent {{Art Game}}s.
* The ''VideoGame/PurpleMoon'' games were actually designed to be gateway series. Three related series (well, two series with multiple instalments plus one StillbornFranchise) sharing the same characters but different genres, they were produced after extensive market research to attract girls ages 8-12 to games -- and thus to computers -- and keep them from abandoning science and technology.
* Part of the reason ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'' is so hated by many fans of the older ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'' games is that this was an EnforcedTrope for it. Bethesda made little secret of the fact that it wasn't making it for longtime fans, but instead wanted something to bring new people into the world of ''Fallout''.
* ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' is the game that introduced most people into the SurvivalSandbox genre as well as inspiring a lot of {{indie game}}s.
* ''VideoGame/{{Splatoon}}'' is a gateway series to shooters. Many Nintendo fans are known to be averse to shooters but the simple mechanics, bright colours, kid friendly nature, and general quirkiness of the series has made a lot of gamers more interested in shooters, especially third-person ones.
* Free-to-play licensed mobile games often serve as a tool for curious players whose friends are into the license to check it out and see what all the fuss is about. ''VideoGame/LoveLiveSchoolIdolFestival'' is a popular one, being an addictive RhythmGame in its own right, and for all the enduring popularity of the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' franchise, ''VideoGame/PokemonGo'' became a trend huge enough to eclipse the main series' sales... and then the [[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon next installment of said main series]] broke preorder records, in large part because of ''Go'' players being brought into the series, either for the first time or after lapsing out after the original games' craze in TheNineties.
* Owing to their minimalist gameplay and lack of challenge, EnvironmentalNarrativeGames like ''VideoGame/GoneHome'' or ''VideoGame/TheStanleyParable'' often serve as a gateway for new players to AdventureGames and indeed video games in general.
* ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'' got a lot of players into ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' as a franchise-fandom, rather than cherrypicking favourite individual titles. A lot of people bought it so they could play as [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Cloud]] (who was even designed with being an [[CrutchCharacter easy character for fighting game newbies to use]], on the grounds that he'd be [[WolverinePublicity such an attractant]]), and then realised they liked [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyV Bartz]], [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV Cecil]] and [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyII Firion's]] personalities just as much, and had to check out their source material. The fact that the old games were in the process of being rereleased at the time suggests this was partly intentional. ''VideoGame/TheatrythmFinalFantasy'', and the mobile ''Final Fantasy'' games such as ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyBraveExvius'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyRecordKeeper'', are also MassivelyMultiplayerCrossover games; ''VideoGame/WorldOfFinalFantasy'' was designed to be an intro to the series and characters for new players.
* ''Puyo Puyo Tetris'' is intentionally one to ''VideoGame/PuyoPuyo''. The series is a CashCowFranchise in Japan but has [[NoExportForYou a shoddy]] [[BadExportForYou record elsewhere]]. ''Puyo Puyo Tetris'' combines the games with the extremely popular and well-known ''VideoGame/{{Tetris}}'' series, which grabs the attention of people who otherwise would ignore ''Puyo Puyo''. It features plenty of tutorials for newcomers as well.
[[/folder]]

* 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.

* Music/RedHotChiliPeppers are a gateway into funk for many people. So are Music/TalkingHeads.
* Music/GeorgeClinton and Parliament-Funkadelic are another BIG gateway into funk, as is Music/JamesBrown, the Godfather of Soul himself.
* Music/BobMarley and The Wailers are the usual gateway into {{Reggae}} and dub. Also, they've covered many songs from the mento, calypso, soul, doo wop, funk and African genres which means that hearing the originals can often attract people to those genres as well.

* Music/{{Eminem}} for rap music in a way. Being the most successful rapper, and an abnormality due to people's preconceptions of skin color with rap music, probably has something to do with it.

* Music/RyCooder's collaborations with Music/AliFarkaToure and Music/BuenaVistaSocialClub made those local artists more famous in the rest of the world.

* Creator/NobuoUematsu in particular, with his extensive work on the Final Fantasy series, his love of using leitmotif, and the acclaim his music has garnered in all forms, is a common entry point.

* Music/TheRollingStones covered so many blues standards that many rock fans discovered {{Blues}} acts like Music/MuddyWaters, Elmore James, Music/RobertJohnson,... thanks to them.

* Music/LanaDelRey and Music/{{Lorde}} for [[IndiePop alternative pop]].

** ''Music/SgtPeppersLonelyHeartsClubBand'' has been shown to be a good intro to AvantGardeMusic; the production is psychedelic and weird, but the actual songs are accessible pop, based on an aesthetic that was TwoDecadesBehind and sounded comforting and nostalgic even at the time. It's especially good for children, since the lyrical content is [[SugarBowl whimsical]] rather than DarkerAndEdgier or TrueArtIsIncomprehensible like a lot of the other experimental rock of that time - even the HigherUnderstandingThroughDrugs references are limited to DoubleEntendre. Many a 10-year old fell in love with ''Pepper'', then moved on to ''Music/PetSounds'', and then went to decidedly spicy freak music like ''Music/TroutMaskReplica'', ''Music/LickMyDecalsOffBaby'', ''Music/TheMadcapLaughs'' and ''Music/{{Barrett}}''.
** The Beatles can also serve as a gateway for BubblegumMusic, if you want to go LighterAndSofter rather than DarkerAndEdgier. Bubblegum historian Bill Pitzonka, when asked how he got into the genre, said:

* Music/{{Jellyfish}}, Music/CheapTrick or Music/BigStar for fans of PowerPop.

** ''Music/SgtPeppersLonelyHeartsClubBand'' has been shown to be a good intro to AvantGardeMusic; the production is psychedelic and weird, but the actual songs are accessible pop, based on an aesthetic that was TwoDecadesBehind and sounded comforting and nostalgic even at the time. It's especially good for children, since the lyrical content is [[SugarBowl whimsical]] rather than DarkerAndEdgier or TrueArtIsIncomprehensible like a lot of the other experimental rock of that time - even the HigherUnderstandingThroughDrugs references are limited to DoubleEntendre. Many a 10 year old fell in love with ''Pepper'', then moved on to ''Music/PetSounds'', and then through to decidedly spicy freak music like ''Music/TroutMaskReplica'', ''Music/LickMyDecalsOffBaby'', and ''Music/TheMadcapLaughs''.
** The Beatles can also serve as a gateway for BubblegumMusic, if you want to go the LighterAndSofter route rather than DarkerAndEdgier. Bubblegum historian Bill Pitzonka, when asked how he got into the genre, said:

** ''Film/TheBluesBrothers'' and its sequel has lead many film-goers to seek out blues, gospel, folk, and older popular music.

** Cheap Trick's distinctive style had been an influence on many different genres of music over their career, from HairMetal to NewWaveMusic to Music/{{Grunge}} to PopPunk to ArenaRock, and could have lately served as a gateway to one or more of those styles.

* ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' is a gateway to many people's love of newspaper comics, and sometimes even to the newspaper comics that influenced it.

* Music/CocteauTwins for DreamPop.
* Music/MyBloodyValentine, Music/{{Slowdive}}, Music/{{Ride}}, Music/{{Lush}}, Music/CatherineWheel, Music/KitchensOfDistinction, Music/TheBooRadleys and Music/PaleSaints for {{Shoegazing}}.

* ''ComicBook/ArchieComics'' is a gateway series into comics due to it's availability (it can be brought in supermarkets and stores unlike most American comics) and it's mostly kid-friendly nature.

* Music/{{Jawbreaker}}, Music/SunnyDayRealEstate, Music/{{Weezer}}, Music/{{Thursday}}, and Music/HawthorneHeights are gateways for {{Emo|Music}}.

** ''Music/SgtPeppersLonelyHeartsClubBand'' has been shown to be a good intro to AvantGardeMusic; the production is psychedelic and weird, but the actual songs are accessible pop, based on an aesthetic that was TwoDecadesBehind and sounded comforting and nostalgic even at the time. It's especially good for children, since the lyrical content is [[SugarBowl whimsical]] rather than DarkerAndEdgier or TrueArtIsIncomprehensible like a lot of the other experimental rock of that time - even the HigherUnderstandingThroughDrugs references are limited to DoubleEntendre. Many a 10 year old fell in love with ''Pepper'', then moved on to ''Music/PetSounds'', and then through to decidedly spicy freak music like ''Music/TroutMaskReplica'' and ''Music/TheMadcapLaughs''.

* Music/CocteauTwins for DreamPop; Music/MyBloodyValentine, Music/{{Slowdive}}, Music/{{Ride}}, Music/{{Lush}}, Music/CatherineWheel, Music/KitchensOfDistinction and Music/TheBooRadleys for {{Shoegazing}}.
* Music/{{Jawbreaker}}, Music/SunnyDayRealEstate, Music/{{Weezer}}, and Music/{{Thursday}} are gateways for {{Emo|Music}}.

* Music/DavidBowie:
** Bowie's ''Music/LetsDance'' album and persona was an era of very accessible commercial pop that can be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys 80s hits, serving as a gateway to his weirder stuff like The Thin White Duke, the musical theatre soundtrack album for a musical that never existed, and the time he was pretending to be an alien.