Hi folks! Welcome to my My Own Personal Nerdy Disney and Animation Scrutinizing Analysis blog. A blog where I'm analyzing several Disney films, Disney or Animation in general! These entries are just meant to be my analyses. Not reviews or statements. Just fun analyses! Though I'll make some personal remarks now and then, the content of these entries are meant to be depicted objectively. They're made for entertainment purpose only and the pictures/clips are copyright Disney or other companies.
Make sure to leave a comment if you like this site! And if there's something you think could be improved, please let me know. But in a constructive way, please. And just a note; I'm not a Native English writer, so my incorrect grammar may be notable.
And finally; If you haven't seen the films, beware of spoilers! And the funny lines aren't meant to be nothing than funny. So I hope you won't find them offensive. If so, I apologize
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| This is how we make electricity in our World :) |
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| I was preceeding the Atlanteans from Atlantis :) |
The
Hollywood Industry is a jungle of
franchises where some properties become more popular than others. Some
franchises just comes and goes, while others stay and
gains a legacy for many years to come. Whether it`s truly a pity or not, is up to you to decide. However, there are also some who gets popular
with their own audiences and finds their small base and never beyond
that. However, the TV World is essentially full of many shows
who`s were popular to their niche audiences, but never managed to truly
gain a true legacy afterwards. But some of these franchises were
especifically made for little girls. With magical components and
elements who were made to that demographic.  |
| They told me that I looked cute when I looked angry :) |
And one of them is Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders (also known as Starla outside of North America, due to simplicity. And how Gwenevere was used legally in a country they wanted
to release it in). Gwenevere was a show produced
by New Frontier Entertainment and Enchanted Camelot Productions with Hong Ying Animation Company Limited. It was
internationally distributed by Bohbot Entertainment, and broadcast in
the U.S. on Amazin' Adventures block. Where it ran from 1995 to 1996, lasting for two seasons and 26 episodes.
The Premise and Characters of Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders
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| Yes, it`s hard to be stuck like this. Duuuh :) |
Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders followed the titular 16-year-old Princess of Avalon (called after Arthur`s wife), and her fellow Jewel Riders, Fallon and Tamara (three girls with different hair colors: Gwenevere being blonde, Fallon being of color and having purple hair and Tamara having pink hair) to find the seven lost enchanted jewels. And to stop the evil sorceress Kale (who`s Gwenevere`s aunt), the former princess, who wields dark magic and seeks to command all magic. from conquering Avalon. And those Crown Jewels are the Jewel of the North Woods, Burning Ice, Dreamfields, Jungle, Rainbow, Misty Rose and Desert Star. In the second season, the girls gain new powers and fight Kale and new enemy Morgana. As they search for more magical jewels to rescue their banished mentor, Merlin (who`s pet is the owl Archimedes, or Archie). And restore harmony in magic. Searching for another magical jewels, the Wizard Jewels.
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| I`m the pet of the smurfs :) |
Each rider has a different Jewel. Which grants them powers and gets them to
safely travel the tunnels of Wild Magic. Gweneverewields
the royal Sun Stone, which gives her powers of light and goodness. Her animal is the winged unicorn Sunstar. Fallon wields the Moon
Stone, which gives her powers of movement and illusion. Her animal
is the unicorn Moondance. Tamara wields the Heart Stone, which makes her talk to animals and give hers healing powers and magical music. In the second season, she gets the "zebracorn" Shadowsong. And talk with their Friends, who are magic animals who wear a jewel identical to their riders. They`re often joined by the Pack, a trio of wolf-riding knights of
Avalon who wield the Forest Stones. Led by Drake, who rides Thunderbolt. And Josh who rides Stormrunner and Max, who rides Windwalker. The power of friendship allows the Riders to overcome evil and befriend some of their enemies.
The Elements of Princess Gwenevere
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| I was trying to be Bjork :) |
As for the universe of Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders,
it`s essentially a premise that is very steeped in fantastical
elements. In a Universe with magic, lore and spells. And with talking, fantasy animals. And yes, it does heavily
borrow elements from Arthurian legends, despite how the lore is rarely confirmed in the show (cause yes, Gwenevere was named Guinevere). And the three titular girls are different enough to be
distinctive. Gwenevere and Fallon are edgy and spunky, while Tamara is the
warm and careful one. And sure, it`s easy to see the Disney
influence on Gwenevere.
As it has many Disneyesque elements.
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| For once a love symbol comes from a star, not a heart :) |
The Ratings and Popularity of Princess Gwenevere
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| We`re the card quartet :) |
As for the reception and popularity of PrincessGwenevere and the Jewel Riders, the truth is that it was a mildly popular show. It struggled with a 0.6 national Nielsen rating among girls 2–11 in 1995. Bohbot hoped the merchandise would raise awareness of it (Hasbro and Toys 'R' Us offered an episode on VHS for free with the pre-order of a toy). But it was still the most popular of the first-run cartoon series in
the 1995 edition of Bohbot's "Amazin' Adventures II" weekend (having the U.S. coverage
of 80% and airing on 106 stations) And it was the number one syndicated TV show in the U.S. among girls 6 to 11 in 1996. Starla was a huge hit in France. Reaching the top
of channel France 3's ratings in children's slots, even with boys, too. And it`s Fun Radio included it among the 14 best cartoons of the 90, as "one of the important girl shows".
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| This is our way to make Koda from Brother Bear quiet :) |
The Reboot of the Comics & Spinoff Book Series
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| We wanted to diversify with our symbols :) |
However, if Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders has a received a reboot, it`s surprisingly not enough through a renewed season (at least yet). But through comics. In May 2024, the first volume was released by Mad Cave Studios and continued in 2025. Including a crossover with the world of King Arthur and the Knights of Justice. Being a modern take
of the Arthurian legends with a dramatized version for an older audience. The plot is how Avalon is in peril and Kale has returned. And while the girls are friends, things are not as they once were.
Gwenevere is now the queen. Fallon now leads the Pack of
Avalon's protectors. Tamara trains
under Merlin to better harness the power of her Heart Stone, but wonders
where she and her powers truly belong. When Merlin acts oddly, it's a sign that evil Wild Magic has returned to the kingdom. Gwenevere must choose between being a Jewel Rider and her new duties. 
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| We`re holding the ginger one, as she`s most mischevious :) |
Behind the Scenes Information
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| I wanted to see how Ariel felt like as a mermaid :) |
Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders was going to be an adaptation of Dragonriders of Pern, fantasy novels by Anne McCaffrey, but went in a different direction. It was Bohbot's earlier take on the Arthurian legends, King Arthur and the Knights of Justice. It was renamed in its development, to Enchanted Jewel Riders and Princess Guinevere & Her Jewel Adventures in March 1995. A work-in-progress title for the show was Enchanted Camelot. And it had some major differences in its character design. The August 1994 draft script for the pilot episode of Enchanted Camelot (Enchanted Quest, which would become Jewel Quest) has been different in many aspects. The team wanted the Jewel Riders to be positive role models for girls. The animation was done in Taipei, Taiwan by Hong Ying Animation Company Limited. The show's CGI effects were created by Ian Tetrault in Autodesk 3ds Max and Adobe After Effects. The actress for Gwenevere/Starla was changed for the second season, as Kerry Butler had to go to Canada for the Beauty and the Beast musical. The show was not renewed for 1997, but a third season was rumored in 1998. 
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| I know that purple hair looks odd, but it makes me distinctive :) |
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| Since I`m (Gwen) the girl, I needed to be in front :) |
Gwenevere was the first gig for composer Louis Fagenson. Cranking out 18-20 minutes of music a week, as episodes would air two
weeks after scoring them. No room for error. With
Fallon they tried to work her to not look specifically African
American, due to the setting. So the skin tone picked for her was
Caribbean, North African and with a Creole accent. And therefore a
favorite for her designer, for not looking pink and pretty. Purple/lavender is the second best selling color, why is why Fallon’s was given it. As it made her mysterious. Gwen needed to be in pink, as girls like it.  |
| I`m a blend of a dog and a cat :) Sort of :) |
But her skin tones and hair was golden, as infused with. Tamaraneeded a special animal friend, which is why a Zebra striped unicorn came. Kale was given the color red, for her harsh dominance. But her costume changed for season 2, cause it was so detailed. Morgana was given icy colors, as she was more mature and
less flamboyant. Kale was going to have a goblin, a bat and a snake. But weasels and dragons read better on screen. Characters like Tara, Fallon’s Sky Dancer and the fourth Pack knight were dropped. Kerry Butler was inspired by the Disney Princesses. Fallon`s name was originally Alexandra. Tamara was
called Melody, but the name was trademarked in the US.
Epilogue
At the end, Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders is
anhonorary entry into the World of animation. And it`s right to say
that it`s deservedly so. As for my own personal opinion about the show, I
must say that I actually like it. I remember watching it on
mornings before entering school when I was fourteen (yeah, I know that
it`s weird to like a show during such an age. But I was a weird kid, so
please don`t blame me). I found it cute and
endearing. But the remarkable thing is how the show was shown here four years after
it premiered, as it was never shown before the last year of the new
Millenium (and yes, here it was named Starla).
And yes, after all these decades, I must say that I`ve still watchedGwenevere and I still like it for the aforementioned reasons. Sure, it`s obviously
made for a toddler audience and there are some juvenile moments. But
it`s still a cute, harmless show for both kids and animation buffs. And
yeah, it`s hard to believe that it`s now been 30 years old (for someone
who actually was a child in 1995). And since this entry was meant to synergize with it`s 30th
Anniversary, there`s nothing left
to wish Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders Happy 30th Anniversary and may you continue to have many more.
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| We wanted to be sparkly without the riders ;) |
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References:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHtZjkqokq4&t=4s (Kelly Butler talks Princess Gwenevere/Starla and the Jewel Riders. Broadway Access Interview. BTS)
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