Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders
Cover art of the Family Home Entertainment VHS release Full Circle
Genre	Adventure Comic fantasy Musical
Created by	Robert Mandell
Written by	Robert Mandell Christopher Rowley Robin Young James Luceno Katherine Lawrence Linda Shayne Mary Stanton
Directed by	Robert Mandell Peter Fernandez (recording) James Tang (animation)
Voices of	Kerry Butler Jean Louisa Kelly Corinne Orr Deborah Allison Laura Dean John Beach Voiceguy Bob Kaliban Peter Fernandez Henry Mandell
Theme music composer	Jeff Pescetto
Composer(s)	Jeff Pescetto (songs) Louis Fagenson (score)
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	2
No. of episodes	26 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Allen J. Bohbot Joseph Cohen Robert Mandell Ralph Sorrentino
Producer(s)	Winnie Chaffee Eleanor Kearney Raissa Roque
Running time	22 minutes
Production company(s)	New Frontier Entertainment Enchanted Camelot Productions Golden Films Hong Ying Animation Company Limited Bohbot Entertainment
Distributor	Bohbot Entertainment
Release
Original network	Syndication (Amazin' Adventures)
Original release	September 9, 1995 (1995-09-09) – December 12, 1996 (1996-12-12)

Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders (also called Starla & the Jewel Riders outside North America) is an animated TV show from 1995–1996. It was made by Bohbot Productions and Hasbro. The show was mostly for girls. It had two seasons, each with thirteen episodes.

The story is about a young princess named Gwenevere from Avalon. She and her friends, Fallon and Tamara, are Jewel Riders. They must find special magic jewels. Their goal is to stop the evil sorceress Lady Kale. They also want to bring their teacher, Merlin, back home. In the second season, the Jewel Riders get stronger powers. They face Kale again, plus a new enemy named Morgana.

This show is similar to The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers. Both shows were created by Robert Mandell. Jewel Riders also has links to the King Arthur legends. It is like "magical girl" anime shows. Even though writers had different ideas, the show was popular in France. It later inspired a book series and a new animated show.

Plot

The Story Begins

The show takes place on the magical island of Avalon. This land uses seven Crown Jewels to keep its magic balanced. The Jewel Riders are young female heroes. They protect the city of New Camelot. They are guided by the wise wizard Merlin. They also have special animal friends.

A new danger appears in Avalon. Merlin suddenly disappears. The Jewel Riders must find the powerful Enchanted Jewels. These jewels control the dangerous Wild Magic. Avalon's future depends on them.

The current Jewel Riders are 16-year-old Princess Gwenevere (Gwen), Fallon, and Tamara. Their jewels have special powers. They let them travel safely through Wild Magic tunnels. They can also talk to their Special Friends. These are magic animals with similar gems. The girls often get help from the Pack. This is a group of teenage boys who ride wolves. They use Forest Stones.

The Jewel Riders fight Lady Kale. She is a mean former princess of Avalon. Kale wants to control all magic and rule the kingdom. The show teaches about the "power of friendship." This helps the Jewel Riders defeat evil. In the second season, a new, more dangerous enemy appears. Gwen and her friends look for more magic gems. They try to stop the forces of darkness.

First Season Adventures

The story starts in the first two episodes, "Jewel Quest." Princess Gwenevere is the daughter of Queen Anya and King Jared. Merlin is preparing her to become a Jewel Rider. She needs to find a special animal friend. Gwen is still waiting for the royal Sun Stone. Her friends Tamara and Fallon already have the Moon Stone and Heart Stone.

Gwen finds her Special Friend, Sunstar, a flying unicorn. She becomes the new leader of the Jewel Riders. Meanwhile, Lady Kale, Gwen's aunt, finds the Dark Stone. She uses it to trap Merlin in the Wild Magic. Kale steals the Crown Jewels. She plans to use them to rule Avalon. But Merlin breaks the jewels apart. He sends them scattering across the kingdom.

When the Crown Jewels are broken, magic becomes unstable. Dangerous magic outbreaks happen. The Jewel Riders must get the jewels back. This is the only way to free Merlin. So, their big adventure begins. They use their jewels and friendship to stop Kale. They must get the Crown Jewels back and save Avalon.

The Jewel Riders search for the seven Crown Jewels. They try to find them before Kale does. The jewels are:

• The Jewel of the North Woods ("Travel Trees Can't Dance")
• The Rainbow Jewel ("Song of the Rainbow")
• The Jewel of the Burning Ice ("Wizard's Peak")
• The Misty Rose Jewel ("For Whom the Bell Trolls")
• The Desert Star Jewel ("The Faery Princess")
• The Jewel of the Dreamfields ("Dreamfields")
• The Jewel of the Jungle ("Revenge of the Dark Stone")

In the final episodes of the first season, Kale takes over the Crystal Palace. She seems unbeatable. She removes the Jewel Riders' powers. Kale plans to become queen forever. She tries to destroy Merlin. But Merlin pulls her into the Wild Magic. He holds her there long enough for the girls to act.

The Crystal Palace is actually the greatest Enchanted Jewel in Avalon. Kale tries to take its power. Instead, she is destroyed. All the dark magic disappears. The girls realize they can now use all of Avalon's magic. But Merlin sacrificed his magic jewel to defeat Kale. He cannot return home yet.

Second Season Challenges

The Jewel Riders get new "Level Two" armor and much stronger magic. They have amazing new powers. But they find them hard to control. Inside the Wild Magic, Lady Kale's Dark Stone calls to a floating palace. There, she reappears. She meets Morgana, the original owner of the Dark Stone. Morgana was trapped in the Wild Magic for a thousand years.

Kale and Morgana hate Merlin. They decide to work together. Morgana sends Kale back to Avalon. Kale must find other Wizard Jewels for Morgana. The Jewel Riders must learn to use their new powers. They continue their quest to bring Merlin home. They soon face Morgana, a very dangerous new enemy.

The seven Wizard Jewels are also hard to find. They are hidden in magical places outside Avalon. The Riders try to find them before Morgana does. Kale also wants the Wizard Jewels for herself. The Wizard Jewels are:

• The Unicorn Jewel ("Vale of the Unicorns")
• The Jewel of Arden ("Prince of the Forest")
• The Garden Jewel ("The Wizard of Gardenia")
• The Jewel of the Sea ("The Jewel of the Sea")
• The Time Stone ("Mystery Island")
• The Fortune Jewel ("The Fortune Jewel")

Princess Gwenevere meets a handsome young man named Ian. He is a wolf-like prince. They fall in love. Tamara gets her own magical animal, a striped unicorn named Shadowsong.

The final battle happens in the Heart of Avalon. Gwen receives the magic Staff of Avalon from the Lady of the Lake. She uses it to defeat Kale again. The Riders and their friends fight Morgana. Gwen combines the Dark Stone with the Sun Stone. She creates the powerful One Jewel. Merlin, now free, uses it to get rid of Morgana and all dark magic forever.

Characters

The Jewel Riders are a team of three teenagers: Gwenevere, Fallon, and Tamara. Each has special abilities and magic gemstones. These gems also let them talk to their magic animals:

• Princess Gwenevere (Gwen) is the main hero. She is 16 years old. She is the daughter of Queen Anya and King Jared. Gwen is the future queen of Avalon. She has blonde hair and blue eyes. She wears pink and uses the royal Sun Stone. Her special power is light and goodness. Her animal friend is Sunstar, a flying unicorn.
• Fallon is a strong bodyguard for Gwen. She is athletic and a skilled warrior. Fallon has dark skin and dark hair. She is the scout of the Jewel Riders. Her powers are about movement and illusions. She wears purple and uses the Moon Stone. Her unicorn friend is Moondance.
• Tamara has pink hair. She is kind and loves music. She is the healer of the Jewel Riders. Tamara wears green. She can talk to all animals. She uses the Heart Stone. In the second season, she becomes friends with Shadowsong, a unique striped unicorn.

Merlin (voiced by Bob Kaliban) is the girls' wise teacher. His talking owl, Archimedes (Archie), helps the girls when Merlin is gone. The boys of the Pack also help. Drake (voiced by John Beach) leads them. He is Gwen's boyfriend. Josh and Max are also in the Pack. Other characters include Gwen's parents, Queen Anya and King Jared. The Travel Trees and Guardian the genie also appear. Ian (voiced by Bob Kaliban) is a new character in season two. He is a man-wolf prince. He falls in love with Gwen and becomes her champion.

The first villain is Lady Kale (voiced by Corinne Orr). She is Gwen's wicked aunt. Kale was banished by Merlin. She uses the Dark Stone for evil. She wants to rule Avalon. Her animal helpers are Grimm the dragon and two small dragon-weasels, Rufus and Twig. The main villain of the second season is Morgana (voiced by Deborah Allison). Kale becomes her helper, but she is not very obedient.

Episodes

Season 1 (1995)

Season 2 (1996)

See also

In Spanish: La princesa Starla para niños