History Main / MythPrologue

* ''Literature/StarTrekTheBraveAndTheBold'', a CrossThrough in which various characters from the 23rd and 24th centuries deal with four ancient [[ArtifactOfDoom Artifacts of Doom]] that could release a SealedEvilInACan, opens in the 22nd cenury with Jonathan Archer being the first human to hear the legend of the Malkus Artifacts.

* ''LiteratureStarTrekTheBraveAndTheBold'', a CrossThrough in which various characters from the 23rd and 24th centuries deal with four ancient [[ArtifactOfDoom Artifacts of Doom]] that could release a SealedEvilInACan, opens in the 22nd cenury with Jonathan Archer being the first human to hear the legend of the Malkus Artifacts.

* ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'' has [[https://biosector01.com/wiki/The_Legend_of_Mata_Nui the Legend of Mata Nui]], which is one of the first things the player can discover in ''Mata Nui Online Game'' and appears as the beginning of the first film, "The Mask of Light". Told using simple stones in a circle of sand, it shows how [[BigGood Mata Nui]] brought the [[{{Hobbits}} Matoran]] people to a tropical paradise and taught them [[VirtueViceCodification the Three Virtues]], only to get cursed by his envious brother [[BigBad Makuta]]. It then foretells of six heroes who would protect the Matoran, fight Makuta's grasp, and reawaken Mata Nui. [[spoiler: It's later revealed that certain details of the Legend are MetaphoricallyTrue.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Wolfwalkers}}'': The [[ComicBookAdaptation graphic novel adaptation]] starts with the story of the Wolfwalkers' origins; they were a tribe who refused to convert to Christianity when Saint Patrick came to Ireland, and Saint Patrick responded by making it so that they would [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent leave their bodies behind as wolves when they slept]].

* ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'' has [[https://biosector01.com/wiki/The_Legend_of_Mata_Nui the Legend of Mata Nui]], which is one of the first things the player can discover in ''Mata Nui Online Game'' and appears as the beginning of the first film, "The Mask of Light". Told using simple stones in a circle of sand, it shows how [[BigGood Mata Nui]] brought the [[{{Hobbits}} Matoran]] people to a tropical paradise and taught them [[VirtueViceCodification the Three Virtues]], only to get cursed by his envious brother [[BigBad Makuta]]. It then foretells of six {{heroes}} who would protect the Matoran, fight Makuta's grasp, and reawaken Mata Nui. [[spoiler: It's later revealed that certain details of the Legend are MetaphoricallyTrue.]]

Usually a DistantPrologue set in TheTimeOfMyths. Alternatively, it may be told via OpeningMonologue or FramingDevice (in cases where another character tells the story in-universe). Compare TheLegendOfChekhov, where a story told early on turns out to be real and important later on (while in this trope, the importance is immediately apparent). Might use an ArtShift. See also WhenItAllBegan.

* 'Series/TheLordOfTheRingsTheRingsOfPower'': In the ProlongedPrologue, Galadriel narrates about the quasi-mythical lands of Valinor, and how she witnessed the great events of the mythical First Age. She believes that remnants of evil from the First Age are still looming around, and talks about hunting down a certain EvilSorcerer who escaped, while everyone else, even the Elves, "began to believe that Sauron was but a memory."

* The children's television series ''Series/TheSecretsOfIsis'' begins with an ancient Egyptian mystic presenting a magic amulet to his queen. "O my queen!" said the royal sorceror to Hatshepsut, "with this amulet you and your descendants are endowed by the goddess Isis with the powers of the animals and the elements! You will soar as the falcon soars, run with the speed of gazelles, and command the elements of sky and earth!" Much later, science teacher Andrea Thomas unearths this amulet, and being of Hatshepsut's bloodline, becomes the Mighty Isis, Champion of Justice.

* ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena'': The anime begins with a story about a prince comforting a young princess and giving her a ring that should lead her to him.

* ''Anime/CastleInTheSky'''s second prologue (which plays during the opening credits) uses stylized animation to portray the rise and eventual fall of the Laputian civilization. It ends with Sheeta standing alone then cutting to her falling as her pendant lights up and she then floats the rest of the way to the ground.
* ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast'' opens with a story told with stained-glass windows and narration of how the spoiled prince runs afoul of an enchantress in disguise and is transformed into the beast as punishment until he can learn to love and be loved in return.

* ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'' begins with the story of how Shiranui and Nagi slayed Orochi 100 years ago.

* ''VideoGame/{{Skullgirls}}'' opens with a narration describing the legend of the Skull Heart, a mysterious artifact that grants a woman's wish at the cost of transforming her into the titular Skullgirl.

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': The first episode explains the origin story of the world, especially the monstrous Grimm that are drawn to the negative emotions of humanity.

* ''Film/HellboyIITheGoldenArmy'' starts with a young Hellboy's adoptive father Professor Bruttenholm telling him the story of the titular Golden Army and how it was used by the king of the fairies in an ancient war against humanity before being locked away.