History Main / GatewaySeries

** In the 90s, ''Literature/{{Goosebumps}}'' got many kids into reading in general.

** ''Literature/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy''

* 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'')

* 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'',) sketch comedy (''Series/AllThat'',) mystery (''Series/TheMysteryFilesOfShelbyWoo'',) sci-fi (''Series/SpaceCases'',) even horror (''Series/AreYouAfraidOfTheDark'')

* ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' can be this for those who don't know or didn't pay any attention to JossWhedon, particularly those who were a little too young to be into ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' in its heyday.

** ''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 originally came from [[PoesLaw an article in]] ''Website/TheOnion''.

* The films of ''StudioGhibli''.

** DragonballZ. Full stop.

** For some people, ''[[DonPachi DoDonPachi]]'', ''Batsgun'' or ''VideoGame/BattleGaregga'', especially if they play arcade games a lot.

** [=Powder=] and ''ShirenTheWanderer'' are good gateway roguelikes for those discouraged by the complexity (and ASCII-ness) of NetHack and company.

TropeNamer: In the drug world, a ''gateway drug'' is a drug that entices you or makes it easier to try other drugs. This name is mostly used by anti-drug programs, so there is debate about whether gateway drugs are real. But ''gateway series,'' series that makes you start watching new genres you never used to watch, are definitely real.

** {{POWDER}} and ''ShirenTheWanderer'' are good gateway roguelikes for those discouraged by the complexity (and ASCII-ness) of NetHack and company.

* ''CrouchingTigerHiddenDragon'' was many people's gateway to {{Wuxia}}, or Asian cinema in general.

* 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.

** For some people, ''[[DonPachi DoDonPachi]]'', ''Batsgun'' or ''BattleGaregga'', especially if they play arcade games a lot.

* 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.

* Part of the reason ''FallOut3'' is so hated by many fans of the older ''{{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''.

** Not to mention Rockapella's appearances on ''WhereInTheWorldIsCarmenSandiego'', probably the first exposure many had to ''a cappella'' groups in the 90s.

** By virtue of the ''{{Peanuts}}'' specials, especially ''ACharlieBrownChristmas'', there is the music of Vince Guaraldi

* 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 ''MazingerZ'' and some 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: ''DragonBall'' and ''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 ''SaintSeiya'' (Known as "Los caballeros del Zodiaco" or "The Zodiac Knights"), ''SailorMoon'', ''RanmaOneHalf'', ''{{Doraemon}}'', ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', ''RurouniKenshin'', ''{{Pokemon}}'', ''LoveHina'' (more the manga than the anime, though), ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'', ''OnePiece'', ''{{Naruto}}'', ''{{Bleach}}'' and ''InazumaEleven''.

*** Actually, ''Do Don Pachi'' is the TropeCodifer for BulletHell, while ''Batsgun'' is the TropeMaker.

** ''Manga/SailorMoon''. Best said here:
-->[[http://movies.ign.com/articles/103/1036651p4.html 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 Rurouni Kenshin and Revolutionary Girl Utena. 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.]]

* ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' has brought a resurgence in anime interest 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, and [[AnyoneCanDie a dark premise]] on par with series like ''Series/TheWalkingDead'' and ''Series/GameOfThrones'' have quickly won over a devoted (and snarky) fanbase all over the world. It definitely helps that the series brings a mainstream appeal with its Western setting and characters. [[Memes/AttackOnTitan Not to mention the memes.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda''
* ''Disney/TheLionKing''

* Over the years, ''Anime/TheCastleOfCagliostro'' has been used by anime fans as a jumping-on point for the Manga/LupinIII franchise. This can get very ironic considering [[CharacterizationMarchesOn the titular character's actions and personality in the movie]] [[CasanovaWannabe don't quite match up with any of his other incarnations]].

* Part of the reason ''FallOut3'' is so hated by the majority of the fanbase 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/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.]]