Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders
Encyclopedia
Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders (also known as Starla & the Jewel Riders, and listed as such on BKN
's official site) is a 1995
children's
fantasy
animated television series inspired by the Arthurian myths
, produced by Bohbot Productions (now BKN
) with association with Hong Ying Animation
and internationally syndicated by Bohbot Entertainment.
The series had two seasons of thirteen episodes each, first broadcast in its native United States
in 1995-1996 (the export versions have slight changes, including a different name of the main character). The third season has been reportedly planned for the fall 1998 season, but apparently it was then cancelled. The cartoon, however, worked as the basis for the contemporary fantasy
series of Avalon: Web of Magic
books since 2001. Jewel Riders shares many similarities with the magical girl
sub-genre of anime
and the preceding American animated TV series such as She-Ra: Princess of Power
and Wildfire, and was in many ways similar to The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers
(the both shows had the same creator, Robert Mandell
). While it is less well known than its predecessors, it got a fan following and (along with Disney's Gargoyles
) contains some of the earliest signs of a "quest
"-genre American animated series.
, here portrayed as a fairy tale
utopia
that keeps its magical
energies in check with the aid of the royal Crown Jewels
. The plot follows the quest of Avalon's young princess
to secure a series of enchanted gemstone
jewels and restore harmony in magic while battling the forces of darkness. There is a special emphasis on the "power of friendship
", which enables the titular Jewel Riders, the three adolescent defenders of Avalon, to overcome their adversaries. In the American version the title character shares her name with Arthur's wife Guinevere
; the other Arthurian characters in the show include Merlin
, Morgan le Fay
(Morgana), and the episodical appearance of Lady of the Lake
. The series appears to be taking place in the present time, as it is said over a thousand years passed since Merlin's victory over Morgana and there are some modern-day references.
"Jewel Quest". The Grand Wizard Merlin mentors young Princess of Avalon, Gwenevere (Starla outside the United States, voiced by Kerry Butler
) and her friends Tamara and Fallon for the day that they will inevitably find an animal "Special Friend" to share the power of their own themed Enchanted Jewels with them. Gwen is yet to be given the power of the royal Sun Stone in the sacred Friendship Ceremony, while Fallon already has the power of the Moon Stone and Tamara's jewel is the Heart Stone. Their Jewels, besides their own different powers, are allowing them to communicate with their Special Friends - magic animals who each share a similar gemstone as part of their neck collars. The teenage Gwen needs first to find for herself such an animal, and thus to fulfill her destiny and become the new leader of the Jewel Riders - champions of goodness and magical guardians of the castle of New Camelot
, who uphold the laws of Avalon and defend its people for generations. However, Lady Kale (Corinne Orr
), Queen Anya's jealous sister who was once denied the Sun Stone (and thus also the throne) by Merlin and became an outlaw sorceress, is plotting her revenge to conquer Avalon and use its magic for evil. Using the sinister powers of her newly found Dark Stone, Kale sends Merlin into the hidden realm of Wild Magic and attempts to steal the Crown Jewels in order to make herself an undisputed ruler of the kingdom. But little she knows Merlin has not been destroyed, and in the last moment he makes all seven Crown Jewels return to the lands from where they came. The Crown Jewels that Kale needs to rule also kept away from her for a time being, but in doing so they were scattered wide across Avalon - and with the Crown Jewels gone from Merlin's Jewel Box, the Wild Magic is no longer stable. Finding them all is also the only way to rescue Merlin, and so the titular Jewel Quest begins. Gwen also succeeds in finding her Special Friend, which turns out to be a brave winged unicorn
named Sunstar (rescued by her from Kale).
Once the bond of the Crown Jewels is broken, the Wild Magic flows out of control, causing destructive outbreaks until they are all brought together again. Retrieving them is also the only way the Jewel Riders can recover Merlin from his prison inside the Wild Magic. Avalon's fate now rests with the Jewel Riders, the latest incarnation of which consists of the princess and her two best friends. Each of them has her own Enchanted Jewel, which enables them to wear Jewel Armor and travel safely through the dangerous dimension of Wild Magic and reach various locations. Along the way, the protagonists must contend with selfish efforts of the ruthless Lady Kale, who intends to instead connect ("tune") the magic of Crown Jewels to herself and gain enough power to bring down her sister's rule and become the new queen of Avalon. The girls are often assisted by a young male trio of brave wolf-riding Knights of Avalon, known as the Pack, who all use the power of the Forest Stones. Using the magic of the Enchanted Jewels and their friendship, those adventurous teens team up to reclaim the jewels that can protect the kingdom from danger.
For the first thirteen episodes, the primary storyline is the Jewel Riders' quest of finding and securing the Crown Jewels before Kale can use their powers to destroy Merlin and take over the kingdom. The Crown Jewels include Jewel of the North Woods found in the forest of Ravenwood, Jewel of the magical Dreamfields, Rainbow Jewel found inside the Rainbow Falls in the hills, Burning Ice Jewel found in the Tower of Glog at the Wizard's Peak in the snow-covered mountains, Desert Star Jewel of the Great Desert recovered from the magical realm of Faeryland
, Misty Rose Jewel found in the Misty Moors, and the Jewel of the Jungle found in the hidden lair of the ancient Enchantress Morgana. During the two-part dramatic finale
of the first season Kale actually manages to seize control of Avalon and all of its magic, but she is tricked by Merlin to be defeated by the power of Crown Jewels. The girls discover that in accomplishing their quest, they have now entuned the Crown Jewels to their own personal jewels - but in doing so, they also squander any chance of rescuing Merlin for the time being, leaving the series as yet unresolved.
) and the Jewel Riders seek out another cache of magical gems, the ancient Wizard Jewels, with an extra adversary to deal with. Having been banished into the limbo of Wild Magic herself, Kale is drawn towards a floating palace, where she meets Morgana - one of the legendary Grand Wizards and the creator of the Dark Stone. A millennium ago, Morgana led a failed conspiracy conceived many by her and the other Grand Wizards against Merlin, but she has been vanquished and since then she remains trapped by the Wild Magic. When Morgana realizes that the Dark Stone has now become entuned to Kale and she cannot control it, they decide to join forces against Merlin (however, secretly, the both of them plan to rid of each other too) and thus Kale is able to get out. Meanwhile, the Jewel Riders realize that the powers of the Crown Jewels have given them a set of new "Level Two" magical armor and powers seven times more powerful than before. They have now at their disposal far greater magic than they ever dreamed possible, which they have initially difficulty controlling. The girls must now learn how to use these enhanced powers and continue their quest to bring Merlin home and protect Avalon. Soon, they come face-to-face with the mighty Morgana and realize that they are facing with a formidable new enemy.
The seven Wizard Jewels are the Garden Jewel (shaped like a flower), the Unicorn Jewel (shaped like an unicorn's horn), the Jewel of the Sea (shaped like a seashell), the Time Stone (shaped like a hourglass
), the Jewel of Arden (shaped like a leaf), the Fortune Jewel (shaped like a top), and the Dark Stone itself. The Riders are now trying to capture the jewels before they may fall into the hands of Morgana, who wants to use their power to complete her conquest of Avalon. During one her adventures, Gwen meets a mysterious young man called Ian (a werewolf
who eventually saves the day during the final battle) and falls in love with him, and Tamara finds a magical animal for herself, who turns out to be an unicorn named Shadowsong. In the series' two-part dramatic conclusion, the Riders and their friends together manage to create The One Jewel (Merlin’s Wizard Jewel and the red orb on his staff), using it to again defeat Kale (this time turning her into a stone statue), and then to win over Morgana in a test of skills and wits, sending her back to the Wild Magic. In the end, Merlin is finally freed and the balance of magic to Avalon is restored for as long as it can be before evil arises again.
Sunstar), Fallon (riding on the unicorn Moondance) and Tamara (who in the second season she gets the unicorn Shadowsong). Each of their Jewels has different magical abilities and their own colors and corresponding gemstones with various powers, also allowing them to communicate with their animals. The Pack (or Knights of Avalon as they are also referred to) consist of Gwen's wannabe boyfriend Drake (who is their leader), Josh and Max (the two have rather minor roles), who guard the Crystal Palace and sometimes aid the Jewel Riders. The series' main villainess is initially Lady Kale, Gwen's wicked aunt (aided by her evil dragon Grimm and a duo of "Dweasels"), but in the second season the prime enemy is Morgana with Kale at her side. The princess and her friends are also always aided by the Merlin's talking owl named Archie.
through reverse toyetic
to accompany their line of toys (albeit only in the form of vague outline and the creators developed the plot and the characters). According to The Buffalo News
, "the production team intended for the Jewel Riders to serve as positive role models for girls".
(as Принцеса Старла и сияйните ездачи), Canada
on YTV, in Estonia
on TV 1
(as Printsess Starla), in France
on France 3
(as Princesse Starla et les Joyaux magiques), in Germany
on ORF 1 and RTL 2
(as Starla und die Kristallretter), in Italy
on Italia 1
(as Starla e le sette gemme del mistero), in Romania
on TVR1 (as Printesa Starla), in Norway
(as Prinsesse Starla og Juvelridderne), in Philippines
on GMA Network
(as Starla at ang mga Jewel Riders), in Poland
on RTL 7
(as Starla i Jeźdźcy), in Portugal
on SIC
and Canal Panda
(as Starla e as Jóias Encantadas), in Russia
(as Принцесса Старла и повелители камней), in Serbia
(as Старла и небески јахачи), in Spain
, under the titles of La princesa Starla (TVE1) and Starla i les amazones de les joies (Catalonian language TV3
), in Sweden
on Canal+
, FilmNet
and TV 3
(as Starla och juvelriddarna), and in United Kingdom
on GMTV
in early 1990s and re-run on Pop Girl
in 2009 (both under the Starla... title).
releases in America
by Family Home Entertainment
, covering only part of the first season and consisting of Jewel Quest (which contained "Jewel Quest Part 1" and "Jewel Quest Part 2"), Wizard's Peak ("Wizard's Peak" and "Travel Trees Can't Dance"), For Whom the Bell Trolls ("For Whom the Bell Trolls" and "The Faery Princess"), and Full Circle ("Revenge of the Dark Stone" and "Full Circle").
In Europe
there were British (in 1999 by Carlton Visual Entertainment) and French (in 2000 by Warner Home Video
) VHS releases that contained also episodes from the second season of the show.
in 2006. They announced plans to released the first two volumes in late 2006, and to release subsequent volumes over the course of the next year. The first and the only DVD released by Digiview was Wizard's Peak, containing the first five episodes of the show and available in the Wal-Mart
stores. Though it says "Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders" on the cover, the actual show on the DVD is the international version (Starla & the Jewel Riders), which uses Gwenevere's European name Starla (both in the theme song, and in the main dialogue). In addition in the case of both the cover, and the show itself, the European-style fonts are used in the logo. The disc also appears to be region-free.
The complete first season was released on DVD in 2008 in France (dubbing
) and the whole series was released in Serbia (voice-over translation) the same year.
form on the Lycos
Cinema service (later Kidlet). In 2009 the show was also made freely available for users of the Internet service SyncTV (available online from the browser for the American users and downloadable for watching for the others). While it is titled as Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders, it is actually the Starla version.
s for the girls of ages 4 and up:
There were also other merchandise items for the series, such as collectable trading card
s released by the Upper Deck Company
in 1996.
called the series "so sexist and racist" for having "the powerful female figure demonized as evil and the main character blond and blue-eyed".
wrote her own book series
loosely based on the show and borrowing ideas and names (such as episode titles), as well as lyrics from some of the songs used in Jewel Riders. The series consists of twelve novels, as well as the three-volume graphic novel adaptation, Avalon: The Warlock Diaries.
BKN
Bohbot Kids Network was a syndicated animation block created and distributed by Bohbot Entertainment, an animation production company founded by Allen J...
's official site) is a 1995
1995 in television
The year 1995 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1995.For the American TV schedule, see: 1995-96 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-1950s:...
children's
Children's television series
Children's television series, are commercial television programs designed for, and marketed to children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run in the early evening, for the children that go to school...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
animated television series inspired by the Arthurian myths
Matter of Britain
The Matter of Britain is a name given collectively to the body of literature and legendary material associated with Great Britain and its legendary kings, particularly King Arthur...
, produced by Bohbot Productions (now BKN
BKN
Bohbot Kids Network was a syndicated animation block created and distributed by Bohbot Entertainment, an animation production company founded by Allen J...
) with association with Hong Ying Animation
Hong Ying Animation
Hong Ying Animation is an animation studio located in Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China and Shanghai, China. It was founded in 1986.-Works:Hong Ying animated, inked, and/or painted for the following shows:*Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog...
and internationally syndicated by Bohbot Entertainment.
The series had two seasons of thirteen episodes each, first broadcast in its native United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1995-1996 (the export versions have slight changes, including a different name of the main character). The third season has been reportedly planned for the fall 1998 season, but apparently it was then cancelled. The cartoon, however, worked as the basis for the contemporary fantasy
Contemporary fantasy
Contemporary fantasy, also known as modern fantasy or indigenous fantasy, is a sub-genre of fantasy, set in the present day. It is perhaps most popular for its sub-genre, urban fantasy.-Definition and overview:...
series of Avalon: Web of Magic
Avalon: Web of Magic
Avalon: Web of Magic is a series of 12 children's fantasy novels by the American author Rachel Roberts. Some of them were also released under the title Avalon: Quest for Magic and there is a related graphic novel series, Avalon: The Warlock Diaries...
books since 2001. Jewel Riders shares many similarities with the magical girl
Magical girl
belong to a sub-genre of Japanese fantasy anime and manga. Magical girl stories feature young girls with superhuman abilities, forced to fight evil and to protect the Earth. They often possess a secret identity, although the name can just refer to young girls who follow a plotline involving magic...
sub-genre of anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
and the preceding American animated TV series such as She-Ra: Princess of Power
She-Ra: Princess of Power
She-Ra: Princess of Power is an American animated television series produced in 1985 by Filmation. It is a spinoff of Filmation's highly successful He-Man and the Masters of the Universe series, aimed primarily at a young girls' audience to counter-balance the latter show's popularity with boys...
and Wildfire, and was in many ways similar to The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers
The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers
The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers was an American animated Space Western television series created by Robert Mandell and Gaylord Entertainment Company....
(the both shows had the same creator, Robert Mandell
Robert Mandell
Robert Mandell is an American animated series and film writer, director and producer. He is a five-time NY Golden Apple Award winner in graphics arts and design....
). While it is less well known than its predecessors, it got a fan following and (along with Disney's Gargoyles
Gargoyles (TV series)
Gargoyles is an American animated series created by Greg Weisman. It was produced by Greg Weisman and Frank Paur and aired from October 24, 1994 to February 15, 1997. Gargoyles is known for its dark tone, complex story arcs and melodrama...
) contains some of the earliest signs of a "quest
Quest
In mythology and literature, a quest, a journey towards a goal, serves as a plot device and as a symbol. Quests appear in the folklore of every nation and also figure prominently in non-national cultures. In literature, the objects of quests require great exertion on the part of the hero, and...
"-genre American animated series.
Plot
The show's action is set in what is traditionally King Arthur's resting place in the legend, the island of AvalonAvalon
Avalon is a legendary island featured in the Arthurian legend. It first appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth's 1136 pseudohistorical account Historia Regum Britanniae as the place where King Arthur's sword Excalibur was forged and later where Arthur was...
, here portrayed as a fairy tale
Fairy tale
A fairy tale is a type of short story that typically features such folkloric characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. However, only a small number of the stories refer to fairies...
utopia
Utopia
Utopia is an ideal community or society possessing a perfect socio-politico-legal system. The word was imported from Greek by Sir Thomas More for his 1516 book Utopia, describing a fictional island in the Atlantic Ocean. The term has been used to describe both intentional communities that attempt...
that keeps its magical
Magic (fantasy)
Magic in fiction is the endowing of fictional characters or objects with magical powers.Such magic often serves as a plot device, the source of magical artifacts and their quests...
energies in check with the aid of the royal Crown Jewels
Crown jewels
Crown jewels are jewels or artifacts of the reigning royal family of their respective country. They belong to monarchs and are passed to the next sovereign to symbolize the right to rule. They may include crowns, sceptres, orbs, swords, rings, and other objects...
. The plot follows the quest of Avalon's young princess
Princess
Princess is the feminine form of prince . Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or his daughters....
to secure a series of enchanted gemstone
Gemstone
A gemstone or gem is a piece of mineral, which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments...
jewels and restore harmony in magic while battling the forces of darkness. There is a special emphasis on the "power of friendship
Friendship
Friendship is a form of interpersonal relationship generally considered to be closer than association, although there is a range of degrees of intimacy in both friendships and associations. Friendship and association are often thought of as spanning across the same continuum...
", which enables the titular Jewel Riders, the three adolescent defenders of Avalon, to overcome their adversaries. In the American version the title character shares her name with Arthur's wife Guinevere
Guinevere
Guinevere was the legendary queen consort of King Arthur. In tales and folklore, she was said to have had a love affair with Arthur's chief knight Sir Lancelot...
; the other Arthurian characters in the show include Merlin
Merlin
Merlin is a legendary figure best known as the wizard featured in the Arthurian legend. The standard depiction of the character first appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, written c. 1136, and is based on an amalgamation of previous historical and legendary figures...
, Morgan le Fay
Morgan le Fay
Morgan le Fay , alternatively known as Morgane, Morgaine, Morgana and other variants, is a powerful sorceress in the Arthurian legend. Early works featuring Morgan do not elaborate her character beyond her role as a fay or magician...
(Morgana), and the episodical appearance of Lady of the Lake
Lady of the Lake
The Lady of the Lake is the name of several related characters who play parts in the Arthurian legend. These characters' roles include giving King Arthur his sword Excalibur, enchanting Merlin, and raising Lancelot after the death of his father...
. The series appears to be taking place in the present time, as it is said over a thousand years passed since Merlin's victory over Morgana and there are some modern-day references.
First season
The story is set up during the two-part pilot episodeTelevision pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
"Jewel Quest". The Grand Wizard Merlin mentors young Princess of Avalon, Gwenevere (Starla outside the United States, voiced by Kerry Butler
Kerry Butler
Kerry Marie Butler is an American actress known primarily for her work in theatre.-Early life and career:...
) and her friends Tamara and Fallon for the day that they will inevitably find an animal "Special Friend" to share the power of their own themed Enchanted Jewels with them. Gwen is yet to be given the power of the royal Sun Stone in the sacred Friendship Ceremony, while Fallon already has the power of the Moon Stone and Tamara's jewel is the Heart Stone. Their Jewels, besides their own different powers, are allowing them to communicate with their Special Friends - magic animals who each share a similar gemstone as part of their neck collars. The teenage Gwen needs first to find for herself such an animal, and thus to fulfill her destiny and become the new leader of the Jewel Riders - champions of goodness and magical guardians of the castle of New Camelot
Camelot
Camelot is a castle and court associated with the legendary King Arthur. Absent in the early Arthurian material, Camelot first appeared in 12th-century French romances and eventually came to be described as the fantastic capital of Arthur's realm and a symbol of the Arthurian world...
, who uphold the laws of Avalon and defend its people for generations. However, Lady Kale (Corinne Orr
Corinne Orr
Corinne Orr is a Canadian-born actress and voice artist, who now lives in New York City, where she has resided for more than four decades....
), Queen Anya's jealous sister who was once denied the Sun Stone (and thus also the throne) by Merlin and became an outlaw sorceress, is plotting her revenge to conquer Avalon and use its magic for evil. Using the sinister powers of her newly found Dark Stone, Kale sends Merlin into the hidden realm of Wild Magic and attempts to steal the Crown Jewels in order to make herself an undisputed ruler of the kingdom. But little she knows Merlin has not been destroyed, and in the last moment he makes all seven Crown Jewels return to the lands from where they came. The Crown Jewels that Kale needs to rule also kept away from her for a time being, but in doing so they were scattered wide across Avalon - and with the Crown Jewels gone from Merlin's Jewel Box, the Wild Magic is no longer stable. Finding them all is also the only way to rescue Merlin, and so the titular Jewel Quest begins. Gwen also succeeds in finding her Special Friend, which turns out to be a brave winged unicorn
Winged unicorn
A winged unicorn is a merger of the concept of pegasus and unicorn...
named Sunstar (rescued by her from Kale).
Once the bond of the Crown Jewels is broken, the Wild Magic flows out of control, causing destructive outbreaks until they are all brought together again. Retrieving them is also the only way the Jewel Riders can recover Merlin from his prison inside the Wild Magic. Avalon's fate now rests with the Jewel Riders, the latest incarnation of which consists of the princess and her two best friends. Each of them has her own Enchanted Jewel, which enables them to wear Jewel Armor and travel safely through the dangerous dimension of Wild Magic and reach various locations. Along the way, the protagonists must contend with selfish efforts of the ruthless Lady Kale, who intends to instead connect ("tune") the magic of Crown Jewels to herself and gain enough power to bring down her sister's rule and become the new queen of Avalon. The girls are often assisted by a young male trio of brave wolf-riding Knights of Avalon, known as the Pack, who all use the power of the Forest Stones. Using the magic of the Enchanted Jewels and their friendship, those adventurous teens team up to reclaim the jewels that can protect the kingdom from danger.
For the first thirteen episodes, the primary storyline is the Jewel Riders' quest of finding and securing the Crown Jewels before Kale can use their powers to destroy Merlin and take over the kingdom. The Crown Jewels include Jewel of the North Woods found in the forest of Ravenwood, Jewel of the magical Dreamfields, Rainbow Jewel found inside the Rainbow Falls in the hills, Burning Ice Jewel found in the Tower of Glog at the Wizard's Peak in the snow-covered mountains, Desert Star Jewel of the Great Desert recovered from the magical realm of Faeryland
Fairy
A fairy is a type of mythical being or legendary creature, a form of spirit, often described as metaphysical, supernatural or preternatural.Fairies resemble various beings of other mythologies, though even folklore that uses the term...
, Misty Rose Jewel found in the Misty Moors, and the Jewel of the Jungle found in the hidden lair of the ancient Enchantress Morgana. During the two-part dramatic finale
Series finale
A series finale refers to the last installment of a series with a narrative presented through mediums such as television, film and literature. In many Commonwealth countries, the term final episode is commonly used in regards to a television series...
of the first season Kale actually manages to seize control of Avalon and all of its magic, but she is tricked by Merlin to be defeated by the power of Crown Jewels. The girls discover that in accomplishing their quest, they have now entuned the Crown Jewels to their own personal jewels - but in doing so, they also squander any chance of rescuing Merlin for the time being, leaving the series as yet unresolved.
Second season
In the second season, instead of Crown Jewels, Gwenevere (in this season voiced by Jean Louisa KellyJean Louisa Kelly
Jean Louisa Kelly is an American actress and singer. She is perhaps best known for her long-running role as Kim Warner on the television sitcom Yes, Dear.-Career:...
) and the Jewel Riders seek out another cache of magical gems, the ancient Wizard Jewels, with an extra adversary to deal with. Having been banished into the limbo of Wild Magic herself, Kale is drawn towards a floating palace, where she meets Morgana - one of the legendary Grand Wizards and the creator of the Dark Stone. A millennium ago, Morgana led a failed conspiracy conceived many by her and the other Grand Wizards against Merlin, but she has been vanquished and since then she remains trapped by the Wild Magic. When Morgana realizes that the Dark Stone has now become entuned to Kale and she cannot control it, they decide to join forces against Merlin (however, secretly, the both of them plan to rid of each other too) and thus Kale is able to get out. Meanwhile, the Jewel Riders realize that the powers of the Crown Jewels have given them a set of new "Level Two" magical armor and powers seven times more powerful than before. They have now at their disposal far greater magic than they ever dreamed possible, which they have initially difficulty controlling. The girls must now learn how to use these enhanced powers and continue their quest to bring Merlin home and protect Avalon. Soon, they come face-to-face with the mighty Morgana and realize that they are facing with a formidable new enemy.
The seven Wizard Jewels are the Garden Jewel (shaped like a flower), the Unicorn Jewel (shaped like an unicorn's horn), the Jewel of the Sea (shaped like a seashell), the Time Stone (shaped like a hourglass
Hourglass
An hourglass measures the passage of a few minutes or an hour of time. It has two connected vertical glass bulbs allowing a regulated trickle of material from the top to the bottom. Once the top bulb is empty, it can be inverted to begin timing again. The name hourglass comes from historically...
), the Jewel of Arden (shaped like a leaf), the Fortune Jewel (shaped like a top), and the Dark Stone itself. The Riders are now trying to capture the jewels before they may fall into the hands of Morgana, who wants to use their power to complete her conquest of Avalon. During one her adventures, Gwen meets a mysterious young man called Ian (a werewolf
Werewolf
A werewolf, also known as a lycanthrope , is a mythological or folkloric human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or an anthropomorphic wolf-like creature, either purposely or after being placed under a curse...
who eventually saves the day during the final battle) and falls in love with him, and Tamara finds a magical animal for herself, who turns out to be an unicorn named Shadowsong. In the series' two-part dramatic conclusion, the Riders and their friends together manage to create The One Jewel (Merlin’s Wizard Jewel and the red orb on his staff), using it to again defeat Kale (this time turning her into a stone statue), and then to win over Morgana in a test of skills and wits, sending her back to the Wild Magic. In the end, Merlin is finally freed and the balance of magic to Avalon is restored for as long as it can be before evil arises again.
Characters
The teenage Jewels Riders trio consist of Gwenevere / Starla (whose Special Friend is the pegasusPegasus
Pegasus is one of the best known fantastical as well as mythological creatures in Greek mythology. He is a winged divine horse, usually white in color. He was sired by Poseidon, in his role as horse-god, and foaled by the Gorgon Medusa. He was the brother of Chrysaor, born at a single birthing...
Sunstar), Fallon (riding on the unicorn Moondance) and Tamara (who in the second season she gets the unicorn Shadowsong). Each of their Jewels has different magical abilities and their own colors and corresponding gemstones with various powers, also allowing them to communicate with their animals. The Pack (or Knights of Avalon as they are also referred to) consist of Gwen's wannabe boyfriend Drake (who is their leader), Josh and Max (the two have rather minor roles), who guard the Crystal Palace and sometimes aid the Jewel Riders. The series' main villainess is initially Lady Kale, Gwen's wicked aunt (aided by her evil dragon Grimm and a duo of "Dweasels"), but in the second season the prime enemy is Morgana with Kale at her side. The princess and her friends are also always aided by the Merlin's talking owl named Archie.
Episodes
| Number | Title | Writer(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jewel Quest, Part I | Robert Mandell Robert Mandell Robert Mandell is an American animated series and film writer, director and producer. He is a five-time NY Golden Apple Award winner in graphics arts and design.... |
| 2 | Jewel Quest, Part II | Robert Mandell |
| 3 | Travel Trees Don’t Dance | Christopher Rowley Christopher Rowley Christopher Rowley is an American writer of both science fiction and fantasy novels.Rowley was born in 1948 in Lynn, Massachusetts to an American mother and an English father. Educated for the most part at Brentwood School, Essex, England, he became a London-based journalist in the 1970s... and Robin Young Robin Young Robin Young is an American television and radio personality. She has been a Boston, Massachusetts-based radio and television host since the mid-1970s when she hosted Evening Magazine for WBZ-TV.... |
| 4 | Song of the Rainbow | Mary Stanton Mary Stanton Mary Stanton is an American author. She is most famous for her eight-volume children's fantasy series Unicorns of Balinor, about a young princess who must return to her kingdom to regain all of her memories, her throne, and to return peace to her world.Under the pseudonym Claudia Bishop she is the... and Robin Young |
| 5 | Wizard’s Peak | James Luceno James Luceno James Luceno is The New York Times bestselling author of three Star Wars: The New Jedi Order novels, Agents of Chaos: Hero's Trial, Agents of Chaos: Jedi Eclipse and The Unifying Force.... and Robin Young |
| 6 | For Whom the Bell Trolls | Marianne Meyer and Robin Young |
| 7 | The Faery Princess | Linda Shayne and Robin Young |
| 8 | Badlands | Katherine Lawrence Katherine Lawrence Katherine Lawrence was a television series screenwriter and a short story science fiction and children's non-fiction educational books and video game writer.-Biography:... and Robin Young |
| 9 | Home Sweet Heart Stone | Robin Young |
| 10 | Love Struck | James Mattson |
| 11 | Dreamfields | Robin Young |
| 12 | Revenge of the Dark Stone | Robin Young and Christopher Rowley |
| 13 | Full Circle | Robin Young and Christopher Rowley |
| 14 | Morgana | Robert Mandell |
| 15 | Shadowsong | Robin Young |
| 16 | Fashion Fever | Robin Young and Christopher Rowley |
| 17 | Vale of the Unicorns | Katherine Lawrence |
| 18 | Prince of the Forest | Robin Young |
| 19 | The Wizard of Gardenia | James Luceno |
| 20 | The Jewel of the Sea | Linda Shayne |
| 21 | Trouble in Elftown | Laraine Arkow and Marlowe Weisman |
| 22 | The Wishing Jewel | Laura Munro |
| 23 | Mystery Island | Robin Young |
| 24 | The Fortune Jewel | Robin Young |
| 25 | Spirit of Avalon / Lady of the Lake | Robert Mandell and Christopher Rowley |
| 26 | The One Jewel / Last Dance | Robert Mandell and Christopher Rowley |
Production
The show was originally commissioned by HasbroHasbro
Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
through reverse toyetic
Toyetic
Toyetic is the suitability of a media property, such as a movie, for merchandising spin-off lines of licensed toys, games and novelties. For example, Saturday morning cartoons in the early 1980s and 1990s were well known for this, in particular Pound Puppies; My Pet Monster; and Rude Dog and the...
to accompany their line of toys (albeit only in the form of vague outline and the creators developed the plot and the characters). According to The Buffalo News
The Buffalo News
The Buffalo News is the primary newspaper of the Buffalo – Niagara Falls metropolitan area, and the area's only daily newspaper. It is the only newspaper owned by Berkshire Hathaway.-History:...
, "the production team intended for the Jewel Riders to serve as positive role models for girls".
Television broadcasts
Jewel Riders were aired outside the U.S. in BulgariaBulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
(as Принцеса Старла и сияйните ездачи), Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
on YTV, in Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
on TV 1
TV1 (Estonia)
TV1 was a private Estonian television channel. It included news, current affairs, sports and general entertainment.The channel went bankrupt in 2001....
(as Printsess Starla), in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
on France 3
France 3
France 3 is the second largest French public television channel and part of the France Télévisions group, which also includes France 2, France 4, France 5, and France Ô....
(as Princesse Starla et les Joyaux magiques), in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
on ORF 1 and RTL 2
RTL II
RTL II is a privately owned, commercial, general-interest German television channel.It was founded as a second-generation commercial broadcaster in 1993. It quickly became infamous for its perceived "trash programming", comprising lots of soft porn as well as shows such as Peep and many...
(as Starla und die Kristallretter), in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
on Italia 1
Italia 1
Italia 1 is an Italian commercial television channel on the Mediaset network. It is oriented especially at young people.Italia 1 was launched in January 1982 and, originally, was owned by Rusconi; after a few months, however, due to the aggressive dumping practices of Silvio Berlusconi's rival...
(as Starla e le sette gemme del mistero), in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
on TVR1 (as Printesa Starla), in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
(as Prinsesse Starla og Juvelridderne), in Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
on GMA Network
GMA Network
GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...
(as Starla at ang mga Jewel Riders), in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
on RTL 7
RTL 7
RTL 7 may refer to:* RTL 7 - Dutch TV channel of the RTL Group* RTL 7 - a former Polish TV channel of the RTL Group ; see TVN 7...
(as Starla i Jeźdźcy), in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
on SIC
SIC
Sic is a Latin word that means "thus" or, in writing, "it was thus in the source material".Sic may also refer to:* Sic, Cluj, a commune in Romania* SiC, Silicon carbide, a semiconducting material, also used to make metalworking tools from...
and Canal Panda
Canal Panda
Canal Panda is the first Portuguese cable television channel dedicated to children's programming, mostly animated series. The channel was founded in 1996 as Panda Club in Spain and Portugal, but the name was changed to Canal Panda in 1997. In 2000, the channel left Spain, thus concentrating...
(as Starla e as Jóias Encantadas), in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
(as Принцесса Старла и повелители камней), in Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
(as Старла и небески јахачи), in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, under the titles of La princesa Starla (TVE1) and Starla i les amazones de les joies (Catalonian language TV3
TV3 (Catalonia)
TV3 is the primary television channel of Catalan public broadcaster Televisió de Catalunya, a subsidiary of the CCMA. TV3 broadcasts programs only in Catalan, with an optional dual track in the original language for some foreign-language series and movies...
), in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
on Canal+
Canal+
Canal+ is a French premium pay television channel launched in 1984. It is 80% owned by the Canal+ Group, which in turn is owned by Vivendi SA. The channel broadcasts several kinds of programming, mostly encrypted...
, FilmNet
Filmnet
Nova Cinema is a premium television service available in Greece that broadcasts blockbuster movies and hit series. It is the only 24/7 Movie service in Greece and it launched in 1994. It is owned by Forthnet, who own and operate Nova a DTH satellite service and Nova Sports—a sports channel.Nova...
and TV 3
TV3 (Sweden)
TV3 is a television channel targeted at a Swedish language audience owned by Viasat . It was founded on 31 December 1987 by entrepreneur Jan Stenbeck as joint Scandinavian channel, but Denmark and Norway soon got their own versions of TV3...
(as Starla och juvelriddarna), and in United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on GMTV
GMTV
GMTV was the national Channel 3 breakfast television contractor, broadcasting in the United Kingdom from 1 January 1993 to 3 September 2010. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of ITV plc. in November 2009. Shortly after, ITV plc announced the programme would end...
in early 1990s and re-run on Pop Girl
Pop Girl
Pop Girl is a free-to-air television channel owned by CSC Media Group, showing cartoons, live action and pop music videos for girls aged 6 to 16...
in 2009 (both under the Starla... title).
VHS releases
There were four VHSVHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
releases in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by Family Home Entertainment
Family Home Entertainment
Family Home Entertainment was an American home video company founded in 1980 by Noel C. Bloom. It was a division of International Video Entertainment, which had its headquarters in Newbury Park, California.-General information:...
, covering only part of the first season and consisting of Jewel Quest (which contained "Jewel Quest Part 1" and "Jewel Quest Part 2"), Wizard's Peak ("Wizard's Peak" and "Travel Trees Can't Dance"), For Whom the Bell Trolls ("For Whom the Bell Trolls" and "The Faery Princess"), and Full Circle ("Revenge of the Dark Stone" and "Full Circle").
In Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
there were British (in 1999 by Carlton Visual Entertainment) and French (in 2000 by Warner Home Video
Warner Home Video
Warner Home Video is the home video unit of Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., itself part of Time Warner. It was founded in 1978 as WCI Home Video . The company launched in the United States with twenty films on VHS and Betamax videocassettes in late 1979...
) VHS releases that contained also episodes from the second season of the show.
DVD releases
Digiview Entertainment has reserved the right to release the show onto DVDDVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
in 2006. They announced plans to released the first two volumes in late 2006, and to release subsequent volumes over the course of the next year. The first and the only DVD released by Digiview was Wizard's Peak, containing the first five episodes of the show and available in the Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
stores. Though it says "Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders" on the cover, the actual show on the DVD is the international version (Starla & the Jewel Riders), which uses Gwenevere's European name Starla (both in the theme song, and in the main dialogue). In addition in the case of both the cover, and the show itself, the European-style fonts are used in the logo. The disc also appears to be region-free.
The complete first season was released on DVD in 2008 in France (dubbing
Dubbing (filmmaking)
Dubbing is the post-production process of recording and replacing voices on a motion picture or television soundtrack subsequent to the original shooting. The term most commonly refers to the substitution of the voices of the actors shown on the screen by those of different performers, who may be...
) and the whole series was released in Serbia (voice-over translation) the same year.
Internet broadcast
In 2008-2009 the series has been available to be watched for free in a streaming mediaStreaming media
Streaming media is multimedia that is constantly received by and presented to an end-user while being delivered by a streaming provider.The term "presented" is used in this article in a general sense that includes audio or video playback. The name refers to the delivery method of the medium rather...
form on the Lycos
Lycos
Lycos, Inc. is a search engine and web portal established in 1994. Lycos also encompasses a network of email, webhosting, social networking, and entertainment websites.-Corporate history:...
Cinema service (later Kidlet). In 2009 the show was also made freely available for users of the Internet service SyncTV (available online from the browser for the American users and downloadable for watching for the others). While it is titled as Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders, it is actually the Starla version.
Merchandise
The Hasbro toy line had three series of action figureAction figure
An action figure is a posable character figurine, made of plastic or other materials, and often based upon characters from a film, comic book, video game, or television program. These action figures are usually marketed towards boys and male collectors...
s for the girls of ages 4 and up:
- Princess Gwenevere (Starla), Tamara, Fallon, Drake, Lady Kale, Sunstar, Moondance;
- Deluxe Princess Gwenevere (Starla), Deluxe Tamara, Deluxe Fallon;
- Sun Power Gwenevere (only one figure was released in the third series).
There were also other merchandise items for the series, such as collectable trading card
Trading card
A trading card is a small card, usually made out of paperboard or thick paper, which usually contains an image of a certain person, place or thing and a short description of the picture, along with other text...
s released by the Upper Deck Company
Upper Deck Company
The Upper Deck Company, LLC , founded in 1988, is a private company primarily known for producing trading cards...
in 1996.
Reception
The book King Arthur in America said about the show: "with its strong female heroine, [it] is interesting in part because it is designed primarily for girls". According to Arthurian Literature, "the series appeals to young girls and teaches them the values of friendship". In 2009, the website Topless Robot placed Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders as 5th on the list of "The 10 Most Ridiculous Adaptations of Arthurian Legend". In 2010, a Ms. magazine blogger tongue-in-cheekTongue-in-cheek
Tongue-in-cheek is a phrase used as a figure of speech to imply that a statement or other production is humorously intended and it should not be taken at face value. The facial expression typically indicates that one is joking or making a mental effort. In the past, it may also have indicated...
called the series "so sexist and racist" for having "the powerful female figure demonized as evil and the main character blond and blue-eyed".
The Avalon book series
In 2001, children's book author Rachel RobertsRachel Roberts
Rachel Roberts may refer to:*Rachel Roberts *Rachel Victoria Roberts, British actress sometimes credited as Rachel Roberts*Rachel Roberts *Rachel Roberts, author of the Avalon: Web of Magic series...
wrote her own book series
Avalon: Web of Magic
Avalon: Web of Magic is a series of 12 children's fantasy novels by the American author Rachel Roberts. Some of them were also released under the title Avalon: Quest for Magic and there is a related graphic novel series, Avalon: The Warlock Diaries...
loosely based on the show and borrowing ideas and names (such as episode titles), as well as lyrics from some of the songs used in Jewel Riders. The series consists of twelve novels, as well as the three-volume graphic novel adaptation, Avalon: The Warlock Diaries.
See also
- The Adventures of the Galaxy RangersThe Adventures of the Galaxy RangersThe Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers was an American animated Space Western television series created by Robert Mandell and Gaylord Entertainment Company....
- Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld
- King Arthur and the Knights of JusticeKing Arthur and the Knights of JusticeKing Arthur & the Knights of Justice was a Sunday morning, syndicated animated series which lasted for two seasons of 13 episodes each. The cartoon was produced by Golden Films, C&D Entertainment and Bohbot Entertainment...
- Lady Lovely LocksLady Lovely LocksLady Lovely Locks and the Pixietails was a character property created by American Greetings Corporation in the mid-1980s. The characters were licensed for a toyline by Mattel, and for a syndicated animated television series by DiC in 1987...
- She-Ra: Princess of PowerShe-Ra: Princess of PowerShe-Ra: Princess of Power is an American animated television series produced in 1985 by Filmation. It is a spinoff of Filmation's highly successful He-Man and the Masters of the Universe series, aimed primarily at a young girls' audience to counter-balance the latter show's popularity with boys...
- Tenko and the Guardians of the MagicTenko and the Guardians of the MagicTenko and the Guardians of the Magic was an American cartoon show produced by Saban that centered around the fictional adventures of Japanese real-life magician Princess Tenko, a.k.a...
- Wildfire
- Winx ClubWinx ClubWinx Club is a 2004 Italian animated television series, created by Iginio Straffi and produced by Rainbow S.r.l.. The series is aimed toward children between the ages of five and twelve, but is also popular among teens...
- W.I.T.C.H.W.I.T.C.H. (TV series)W.I.T.C.H. is an animated television series based on the Italian comic book series of the same name produced by SIP Animation in association and participation by France 3, Jetix Europe, CNC, , - AGICOA, the Poitou-Charentes region and the Charente department. Despite their acronym, the five main...
Sources
- Amazin' official website (Internet Archive) Jewel Riders page on the Super3 channel's website
- Kevin J. Harty, King Arthur on Film, 1999
- Barbara Tepa Lupack, Adapting the Arthurian Legends for Children: Essays on Arthurian Juvenalia, 2004
- Hal Erickson, Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 2005
- Bert Olton, Arthurian Legends on Film and Television, 2008
- Vincent Terrace, Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 2008