History Main / CharacterOverlap

** As described in the Western Animation folder, ''WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'' canonically take place in the same universe due to a crossover between their animated shows. Although, it is largely not considered to be canon to the original animated movies.

* The ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' series has included many crossovers, from the main character from ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIf'' appearing in ''VideoGame/{{Persona}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Persona 2}}'', and Raidou appearing in the rerelease of ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiNocturne'' (in place of [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry Dante]]) included with the special edition of ''Raidou Kuzunoha 2''. More recently, Vincent, the main character of ''VideoGame/{{Catherine}}'', made a cameo in ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}} Portable''.

* ''WebAnimation/ZanyToTheMax'' has at least one crossover per season. All the crossovers are in this style (either the Warners enter into the other series, or characters from the other series enter the Animaniacs world).

** Interestingly, the Monsters, Inc. parody is in the third season, which consists of ''[[UpToEleven entirely]]'' crossover episodes!

** As described in the Western Animation folder, ''WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'' canonically take place in the same universe due to a crossover between their animated shows.

* While their respective comics take place in different settings, the authors of ''Webcomic/NeverSatisfied'' and ''Webcomic/RiversideExtras'' loaned each other characters from their respective works:

** Ophelia, Derry, and Siobhan cameo in ''Never Satisfied''. A fourth Riverside character (Ma Oceana) was also included, but ended up assuming a larger role as the story progressed, and was subsequently {{retcon}}ned into a separate character (Magister Lapointe) to avoid confusion.

** ''Film/AntMan'' includes a flashback scene with both Peggy Carter and Howard Stark, and Ant-Man gets in a fight with [[spoiler:the Falcon]].

** One WhatCouldHaveBeen moment: at one point Pterry considered that the various powers attending the Low King's coronation in ''Discworld/{{Thud}}'' would include the King and Queen of Lancre. We'd know they were Verence and Magrat, but to Vimes they'd just be a couple of royals he was briefly introduced to.

** ''Disney/{{Frozen}}'' featured a cameo from Rapunzel and Eugene, taking place after ''Disney/{{Tangled}}''.
** As described in the Western Animation folder, ''Disney/{{Hercules}}'' and ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}'' canonically take place in the same universe due to a crossover between their animated shows.

* One episode of the TV version of Disney's ''Disney/{{Hercules}}'' involved a crossover with the cast of ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}''.

* Demona from ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'' would have appeared in an episode of the cancelled ''Disney/AtlantisTheLostEmpire'' animated series. However, WordOfGod clarifies that the two stories merely intersect here and otherwise don't share the same universe, due to his own plans for the city of Atlantis in ''Gargoyles'' that isn't based on the portrayal in the ''Atlantis'' universe.

** ''WesternAnimation/Ben102016'' had a CrisisCrossover with several other Creator/CartoonNetwork shows, explained as being other universes (including the aforementioned ''WesternAnimation/GeneratorRex'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheSecretSaturdays'' in {{cameo}} appearances). Ben teamed up with ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'''s Garnet, ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansGo'''s ComicBook/{{Raven}}, and ''WesternAnimation/OKKOLetsBeHeroes'''s K.O.

* Naturally, the different iterations of ''Franchise/StarTrek'' feature cameos from different characters, and share recurring nemeses like Q and The Borg. Worf is particularly notable for being a main character on both ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' and ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine''. O'Brien also counts; he started out as a nameless extra in TNG's pilot episode, becoming one of the most recurring characters on the show before being promoted to series regular on [=DS=]9.

* ''WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd'': [[WebVideo/PatTheNesPunk Pat the NES Punk]] appears in episode 104. [[WebVideo/YouKnowWhatsBullshit Bullshit Man]] appears in episode 113. [[WebVideo/BoardJames Board James]] appears in episode 115 and episode 137.
* ''WebVideo/BoardJames'': [[WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd The Angry Video Game Nerd]] appears in episode 25.

** Since his introduction in ''Platinum'', international police member Looker has reappeared in every main series game (remakes included) up until Gen VII's ''[[VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuLetsGoEevee Let's Go!]]''

** Dexio and Sina, Professor Sycamore's assistants in ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'', reappear in ''(Ultra) Sun/Mon'', investigating the appearance of [[OlympusMons Zygarde]] in Alola and later explaining to the player the mechanics of Mega Evolution while providing them a Key Stone and Mega Stone of their own.

* ''VideoGame/JetpackJoyride'', ''VideoGame/MonsterDash'', and ''VideoGame/AgeOfZombies'' feature the character Barry Steakfries.

** Jasmine, the Olivine City Gym Leader from the Johto games, appears briefly at Sinnoh's Sunyshore City in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Pokémon Platninum]]''.
** In return, Sinnoh's champion Cynthia appears in the Generation IV remakes of ''Gold'' and ''Silver'', ''[=HeartGold=]'' and ''[=SoulSilver=]'', if you take Arceus to the Ruins of Alph. Steven Stone from [[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Generation III's Hoenn region]] also makes a postgame appearance in Pewter City.

** Frontier Brain Anabel from ''[[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Pokémon Emerald]]'', set in Hoenn, later reappears as Looker's colleague in Alola.

** Gilgamesh from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'' makes appearances in other ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' games, such as ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII VIII]]'', ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX IX]]'', ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI XI]]'', ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII XII]]'', ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIIRevenantWings Revenant Wings]]'', ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2 XIII-2]]'', ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyType0 Type-0]]'', ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV XIV]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV XV]]''. And, retroactively, ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyI I]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI VI]]'' via their UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance [[VideoGameRemake remakes]]. And something of a BigLippedAlligatorMoment in TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon of ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyIVTheAfterYears The After Years]]'', which suggests [[spoiler:every ''FF'' game with Crystals shares an origin through the game's BigBad]]. There's the unspoken implication that he's a DimensionalTraveler, and that it's actually the same Gilgamesh in each appearance.

** ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'' appears to indicate that all the ''FF'' games are part of the same [[TheMultiverse multiverse]], if rather shakily. Among other things it makes explicit what fans had long speculated: that it really is the same Gilgamesh showing up in more than half the games of the series, as his exit from ''FFV'' resulted in him dimension-hopping.

* The ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' series has included many crossovers, from the main character from ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIf'' appearing in ''VideoGame/{{Persona}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Persona 2}}'', and Raidou appearing in the rerelease of ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiNocturne'' (in place of [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry Dante]]) included with the special edition of ''Raidou Kuzunoha 2''. More recently, Vincent, the main character of ''VideoGame/{{Catherine}}'', makes a cameo in ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}} Portable''.

* The core series Franchise/{{Pokemon}} games set in different regions (except for Kanto and Johto, which are paired due to the former being fully available in the latter's games) traditionally share very few characters, but there are exceptions:
** The main character from the Kanto games, Red, and his rival, Blue, not only appear as the strongest trainer in the game and a gym leader, respectively, in Generation II, but also as bosses of the battle tree in Generation VII's Alola region.
** The Pokémon World Tournament from the Unova-games VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2 contains a Champions Torunament, featuring all champions from all generations up to this one, including the aforementioned Red, and serveral Leaders Tournaments, featuring all gym leaders from a specific region or, in the case of the World Leaders Torunament and the Rental Master Tournament, all regions.
** Professor Oak from Kanto doesn't only appear in Generation II, but also has a brief cameo in Generation IV. Also, his cousin is introduced in Alola.
** The gym leader Jasmin from Johto appears briefly in Sinnoh.
** In return, Sinnoh's champion Cynthia appears in the Generation IV remakes of Gold and Silver if you take Arceus to the ruins of Alph. Steven Stone from Generation III's Hoenn region also makes an appearance.
** In both the Kanto remakes and the original Hoenn games, it is mentioned that gym leader Brawly from Hoenn and elite four member Bruno from Kanto used to train together in Kanto before Brawly moved to Hoenn.
** Caitlin first appears as the head of the battle castle in the battle frontier of Pokémon Platinum (set in Sinnoh) and the Johto remakes. She later reappears as elite four member in the Unova-games.
** Since his introduction in Sinnoh, international police member Looker reappeared in every main series game, including the remakes.
** Frontier brain Anabel from Pokémon Emerald, set in Hoenn, later reappears as Lookers colleague in Alola.
** Professor Burnet from Pokémon Dream Radar reappears in Generation VII and is revealed to be married to Alola's Professor Kukui.

* The Midnight Crew appeared in the tenuously canonical Fan Donation section of ''Webcomic/ProblemSleuth'' before having an intermission to themselves in ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', which was revealed at the end to have storyline relevance with [[spoiler:the Crew being exiles from the Trolls' session, and their rival gang being led by the BiggerBad]].

* The Series/{{Arrowverse}} characters cross over frequently. Sometimes it'll be a big {{Crisis Crossover}}s, featuring lots of characters from each series, but other times it'll be just one character making a cameo or guest spot on a different show (Felicity from ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' attended Iris's bachelorette party on ''Series/TheFlash2014'', Barry Allen from ''Series/TheFlash2014'' accidentally ran through a portal to ''Series/{{Supergirl}}'''s universe, John Constantine made a guest appearance on ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' following [[Series/{{Constantine}} his own show's]] cancellation, and eventually [[{{Transplant}} joined the main cast]] of ''Series/LegendsOfTomorrow'', etc.)

* Creator/KimNewman does this a lot. His ''Literature/AnnoDracula'' series, set in a world where all the vampire stories are true, and his ''Literature/DiogenesClub'' series, set in a world where pretty much every other sort of supernatural thing is true, are alternate timelines of each other and have a large overlap of regular characters. ''Literature/{{Jago}}'', one of his standalone novels published before either of those, has the first appearance of several characters and locations that went on to feature in the ''Diogenes Club'' series.

** ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'': Happy Hogan is still around, but otherwise Nick Fury takes over mentoring duties for Peter; and he brings Maria Hill with him.

** ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDoo'' was an absolute magnet for this. Characters from H-B's adventure series (original and licensed) showed up -- including (but not limited to) Jeannie, WesternAnimation/SpeedBuggy, Dynomutt, and WesternAnimation/JosieAndThePussycats.
*** An episode of ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMysteryIncorporated'' poked fun at this tendency with the Gang going up against Captain Caveman, Jabberjaw, Speed Buggy, and so on.

** Tony Stark, Happy Hogan, and [[spoiler:Pepper Potts]] appear in ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'', since Tony is mentoring Peter in this continuity. Captain America also appears in government-made school [=PSAs=] as a RunningGag.

* Gino Fish appears in all three of Robert B. Parker's books series, ''{{Literature/Spenser}}'', ''{{Literature/Jesse Stone}}'' and ''{{Literature/Sunny Randall}}'' representing TheMafia in Boston.

* ''Series/HerculesTheLegendaryJourneys'' had a spin-off in ''Series/XenaWarriorPrincess'', so this inevitable. While the leads [[RequiredSpinoffCrossover occasionally ran into each other]], the two shows featured a number of the same recurring characters, including [[LoveableRogue Autolycus]], [[HonestJohnsDealership Salmoneus]], [[WarGod Ares]], [[LoveGoddess Aphrodite]], [[DarkIsNotEvil Hades]], and [[GodOfEvil Dahak]].

* The Series/{{Arrowverse}} shows crossover frequently. Sometimes in big {{Crisis Crossover}}s featuring lots of characters from each series, other times just one character making a cameo or guest spot on a different show (Felicity from ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' attended Iris's bachelorette party on ''Series/TheFlash2014'', Barry Allen from ''Series/TheFlash2014'' accidentally runs through a portal to ''Series/{{Supergirl}}'''s universe, John Constantine made a guest appearance on ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' following [[Series/{{Constantine}} his own show's]] cancellation, and eventually [[{{Transplant}} joined the main cast]] of ''Series/LegendsOfTomorrow]], etc.)