Line #262 Main/OpeningNarration


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4	[[quoteright:349:[[ComicBook/StarTrekEarlyVoyages https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/early_voyages_0.png]]]]
5	%%
6	A short monologue at the beginning of a series (usually during the TitleSequence) that briefly explains the series's premise. These are typically vague and prosaic, sometimes falling into FauxlosophicNarration, and are delivered either by a lead character, or by a {{Narrator}}. The content is similar to the [[ExpositoryThemeTune expository type of theme tune]].
7
8	Usually, these monologues do not change much over the course of a series, though some shows do revise them from season to season. The whole concept is probably an artifact from the days of radio, when, lacking title graphics, shows needed a memorable speech at the beginning to identify themselves to listeners.
9
10	Sometimes, a show's first episode will start with a "Cold Opening", another name for TheTeaser, and in every episode thereafter the Opening Narration will take its place. This will only happen if said episode is a WelcomeEpisode or an EveryoneMeetsEveryone {{Premiere}}.
11
12	Also becoming increasingly common in Animes is to use a clip montage of the respective episode with the show's main character(s) explaining the plot of the episode.
13
14	Especially common for SpeculativeFiction; often because the assumption that ViewersAreMorons prevails.
15
16	Also known as a prologue or a "saga sell", an opening narration is often used to 'set the scene' at the opening of a show that might be confusing for first-time viewers (Creator/JossWhedon famously used one for ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'', as the show was initially a mid-season replacement and new viewers might not 'get' the concept).
17
18	See OpeningMonologue when this trope is used for standalone works or exclusively at the beginning of a series. See also OpeningScroll and RulesSpiel. Contrast with SigningOffCatchphrase.
19
20	----
21	!!Example subpages:
22
23	[[index]]
24	* OpeningNarration/AnimeAndManga
25	* OpeningNarration/ComicBooks
26	* [[OpeningNarration/LiveActionTV Live-Action TV]]
27	* OpeningNarration/{{Radio}}
28	* OpeningNarration/VideoGames
29	* OpeningNarration/WesternAnimation
30	[[/index]]
31
32	!!Other examples
33	[[foldercontrol]]
34
35	[[folder:Audio Plays]]
36	* ''Webcomic/ErikaAndThePrincesInDistress'': The first episode of the audio adaptation opens with one, which briefly describes the world in which the story takes place.
37	--> '''Narrator:''' Imagine a world... A world in which genders as we know them would be reversed, swapped around. A world in which women would be the dominant gender, and in which men would be a little more, let's say... weak. This story first starts in the Kingdom of Brutes. Ah, here! There seems to be a bit of action in the castle's courtyard.
38	* Creator/StanFreberg parodied the opening narration of the TV Show ''Dragnet'' in his hit audio sketch ''Saint George and the Dragonet''.
39	-->'''Narrator:''' The legend you are about to hear is true. Only the needle should be changed to protect the record.
40	[[/folder]]
41
42	[[folder:Fan Works]]
43	* In ''Fanfic/TheLegendOfTotalDramaIsland'', every chapter except for the prologue and the first chapter of the [[FramingDevice inner story]] begins with stock narration based on that in ''[[Literature/ArabianNights The Book of the Thousand and One Nights]]'': "The next morning... and then she began to speak." There is some variation, most notably between weekday and weekend.
44	* The ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'' series ''Fanfic/TwiceUponAnAge'' is littered with [[NoteFromEd notes]] from Varric Tethras, who is credited as the editor of the series. The side volume ''Agents Acquired'', however, opens with the longest one of these in the entire series, to give Varric room in which to explain just why the story exists and how annoyed the author is with him for insisting that they write it.
45	[[/folder]]
46
47
48	%%[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
49	%%Keep in mind, this trope is for series use. So if a film has chapters and each chapter opens with the same narration, it goes here. If the film simply openings with a narration, it goes under OpeningMonologue.
50	%%[[/folder]]
51
52	[[folder:Literature]]
53	* Every ''Literature/CaptainUnderpants'' book starts with a paragraph introducing the reader to George and Harold and describing them, concluding with the words "Remember that now". The second part of the two parter expanded upon this by introducing the other side characters and the book's villains who were currently chasing them.
54	* Every novel in ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'' opens with an introductory passage saying: ''The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. LegendFadesToMyth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again.''
55	* From the second ''Literature/TanteiTeamKZJikenNote'' novel (''The Ripped Page Knows'') on, the first chapter (titled ''Aya Tachibana's Monologue'' from the third novel on) of every novel would include a brief summary of the premise, including [[AcademicAthlete what Soccer Team KZ is]], how she get to know them, then followed by some materials that are different in different novels. The spinoff series ''Yousei Team G Jiken Note'' is similar, with the opening chapter called ''[[TheDitz Tennen Character]]''.
56	* All the ''Literature/SectorGeneral'' novels use exactly the same paragraph of exposition describing the setting on the third or fourth page. The effect makes it seem very similar to a TV series having an Opening Narration between TheTeaser and the main body of the episode.
57	* ''Literature/TheUnexploredSummonBloodSign'' has each volume begin with a prologue by the White Queen, explaining the theme of the volume.
58	[[/folder]]
59
60	[[folder:Music]]
61	* Music/{{Sabaton}}:
62	** The band's two {{Concept Album}}s about UsefulNotes/WorldWarI each have an alternate "History Edition" where each track opens with a narration (by voice actress Creator/BethanDixonBate) introducing the topic of the song. The second, ''The War to End All Wars'', ramps it up with an entire prologue track, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xszx_9UPwV8 "Sarajevo"]], describing the PlotTriggeringDeath of Archduke Franz Ferdinand that started the war.
63	** The WebVideo/SabatonHistory Website/{{Patreon}}-exclusive "History Channel Editions" of the band's albums preface each track with an introductory narration by historian [[WebVideo/TheGreatWar Indy]] [[WebVideo/WorldWarII Neidell]]. Unlike the History Edition, the narrations are more factual descriptions than dramatic introductions.
64	[[/folder]]
65
66	[[folder:Podcasts]]
67	* The first episode of ''Podcast/MysteryShow'' started with AMinorKidroduction. All the subsequent episoders started with its Opening Narration:
68	-->'''Starlee:''' "I'm Starlee Kine, and this is Mystery Show. Every week, I solve a new mystery. Mysteries that can't be solved online. Mysteries you can't solve yourself. Up until now, there hasn't been anyone to help with this. That person is now me."
69	* ''Podcast/{{Mission to Zyxx}}'' gets a new one each season.
70	## "The period of civil war has ended. The rebels have defeated the evil Galactic Monarchy and established the harmonious Federated Alliance. Now, Ambassador Pleck Decksetter and his intrepid crew travel the farthest reaches of the galaxy to explore astounding new worlds, discover their heroic destinies, and meet weird bug creatures and stuff. This is ''Mission to Zyxx''!"
71	## "It is a period of civil war. The rebellion against the sinister and corrupt Federated Alliance grows stronger, and the fate of the galaxy hangs in the balance. Now, rebel Emissary Pleck Decksetter and his intrepid crew travel the farthest reaches of the galaxy to explore astounding new worlds, discover their heroic destinies, and meet weird bug creatures and stuff. This is ''Mission to Zyxx''!"
72	## "It is a time of fear and unrest. Emperor [[spoiler:Nermut Bundaloy]] rules the galaxy with an iron fist, and also a planet-crusher crusher. Now, Zima Knight Pleck Decksetter and his intrepid crew travel the farthest reaches of the galaxy to defeat whackness, bring balance to the Space, and meet weird bug creatures and stuff. This is ''Mission to Zyxx''!"
73	## "It is a time of chaos. Without a ruler, the galaxy is paralysed by lawlessness, unrest, and of course, the colossal Allwheat, which looks like some sort of black hole sun. Now, Captain Dar and their intrepid crew must survive the looming threats, reunite a fractured galaxy, and meet weird bug creatures and stuff. This is ''Mission to Zyxx''!"
74	## "Space. Some is chill. Some is tooped up. All is part of the great, infinite cosmic ballet. The venerable starship the ''RSS Synergy'' forges ever deeper into uncharted regions of their galaxy, growing the Coalition of United Planets in the name of science, benevolence, and peace. Now, lead envoy C53 and his intrepid crew explore new worlds, forge alliances, and search for a way back home to finally fulfil their Mission to Zyxx!"
75	## "It is a time of great unease. The crew of the ''Bargearean Jade'' have finally made it home to their beloved quadrant. But something is different. Wrong. ''Whack!'' Now, our intrepid heroes must root out the bad vibes, master the three-sided coin of freshness, and face down foes like they're never imagined on their final Mission to Zyxx!"
76	* "Welcome to ''Desert Island Discworld'', the show that believes it pays to look at any book an orang-utan gives you. I'm Al Kennedy, and each episode I ask my guest which Creator/TerryPratchett book they would want to take with them if they were cast away to a desert island."
77	[[/folder]]
78
79	[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
80	* ''Series/{{Thunderbirds}}'': "Five... four... three... two... one! ''Thunderbirds'' are '''go'''!"
81	* ''Series/CaptainScarletAndTheMysterons'': "The Mysterons: sworn enemies of Earth... leading the fight, one man whom fate has made indestructible! His name: Captain Scarlet."
82	* In the American adaptation of ''The D.J. Kat Show'', after D.J. does his ThemeTuneRap, the narrator gives a different opening narration that is specific to each episode, followed by a TitleScream. He then gives a different introduction for D.J.'s human assistant "Elizabeth!"[[note]]full name: [[TheDanza Elizabeth]] Rose; not to be confused with the Australian musician.[[/note]] (season 1) / "Jennifer Davis!"[[note]]Played by Carmen De La Paz.[[/note]] (season 2).
83	[[/folder]]
84
85	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
86	* ''TabletopGame/IsaacAsimovsRobots'': Detective Baley provides {{Setting}} information and basic {{Exposition}} for people unfamiliar with Dr Asimov's ''Literature/RobotSeries'', circa "Literature/MotherEarth". After his narration, the scene shifts to [[KentBrockmanNews a newscaster providing information on recent events]].
87	[[/folder]]
88
89	[[folder:Webcomics]]
90	* In the [[https://www.starimpactcomic.com/comic/prologue-page-1 prologue]] of ''Webcomic/StarImpact'', [[AMinorKidroduction a young Aster]] recalls her fondness for [[FamedInStory the Legend]], an undefeated boxing champion, as a kid, and how they suddenly vanished from the world one day:
91	--> '''Aster:''' ''There was once [[LivingLegend a star]]''\
92	''I would stare at it a lot as a kid''\
93	''It was so beautiful that I couldn't look away''\
94	''But one day it disappeared, leaving nothing but a black sky.''
95	[[/folder]]
96
97	[[folder:Web Original]]
98	* There is a ''Franchise/TheTwilightZone'' esque narration before every episode of ''WebVideo/BlackBoxTV''.
99	* ''WebVideo/EatYourKimchi'': All of the videos start with Simon and/or Martina introducing the subject.
100	* "Hey, I'm Grump!" "I'm Not-So-Grump!" "And we're the WebVideo/GameGrumps!"
101	[[/folder]]
102

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