The Princess Blog

It's been a little over a year since Jewel Riders  was revived from the nostalgia archives  with a new graphic novel  from Maverick . Today, I am pleased to announce that the series has not been forgotten , and the second volume is about to make its debut. I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC from Maverick's mailing list and was able to read the new Magical Girl adventure in advance. The new  Jordie Bellaire and Koi Carreon  graphic novel is similar to the first one in the series, with beautiful manga-like illustrations, lots of nostalgic references to the '90s cartoon, and an erratic plot that jumps around from page to page. People who enjoyed the first volume of Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders will probably enjoy this one as well, and vice versa, as little has changed. The second volume of Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders picks up after the cliffhanger ending of the first graphic novel, which implied that there was some sort of secret sche...

It seemed too good to be true when I learned that a  Jewel Riders graphic novel was coming out nearly 30 years after the show ended . Though I thought the wait would seem endless, I was holding this magical book in my hands before I knew it. Featuring brand-new artwork and new stories about some of my favorite characters, this book is an absolute dream come true.  This show means the world to me . It was the first series to spark my lifelong love of animated princesses, and it was my first introduction to the  Magical Girl genre . I thought I was the only one who still remembered it until two of my friends founded the  Jewel Riders Archive  and allowed the show's small circle of faithful followers to celebrate  the 25th anniversary  and our happy memories of growing up with such a beautiful and magical world. Now that world can be shared with a new audience thanks to a collaboration between  41 Entertainment  and  Maverick , a division o...

It's no secret that Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders was my absolute favorite cartoon as a kid. There are few others who share this passion with me as the show is still obscure even in an era of countless nostalgic reboots , so when I first heard that Mad Cave Studios  was partnering with 41 Entertainment to make a series of Jewel Riders graphic novels , I was skeptical. A few days ago, my cynicism  was laid to rest when a press release revealed the cover art and release date for the novel. It's really happening! On May 28, 2024, the first issue of the brand new YA Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders graphic novel will be available wherever graphic novels are sold. It's even available to pre-order on Amazon right now! Take a gander at the gorgeous new official cover art below that stays true to show's color palette and art style while adding a modern manga-inspired flare. I am absolutely in love with this new Magic Girl anime-style cover art that features...

Look at this stuff! Isn't it neat? I posted a couple of videos on my YouTube channel  several years ago showing off my collection, but it has grown quite a bit since then, especially after getting a castle of my own . As a self-proclaimed princess enthusiast, I'm always on the lookout for new and exciting additions to my collection. And let me tell you, I've hit the jackpot recently. From 3D prints of enchanted jewels to rare memorabilia from classic and upcoming princess movies, I've added some truly amazing items to my collection. My household recently invested in a 3D printer, and I've found that it's a fantastic tool for growing your princess collection with items that might be difficult to find online such as Magical Girl transformation wands, tiaras, and more. I also may have inherited some of Ariel's hoarding tendencies lately as a side effect of my hype for the upcoming remake of The Little Mermaid . Having a 3D printer is a lot of work, but it can...

On September 10th, 1995, our televisions were graced with the amazing adventures of Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders . This show has a lot of special meaning to me. It was one of my earliest obsessions, and I loved everything about it--the story, the music, the costumes, the setting, the artwork... Everything! Many of my other favorite princesses  had live celebrations  for their anniversaries over the years that I was fortunate enough to attend. Thanks to my friends at the Jewel Riders Archive , Princess Gwenevere will not be forgotten either. The archive kicked off their year-long anniversary celebration  one year ago today with a podcast that I participated in with them and some of the other founding members of the fandom. Today, in honor of the 25th anniversary, we recorded a brand new podcast for all of you to enjoy filled with our favorite memories of the show. I have to admit that I enjoyed recording this podcast even more than the last one. Ronnie and Chri...

Three princess anniversary celebrations within roughly two weeks? Yes, please! Today marks 24 years since one of my favorite cartoons of all time, Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders , debuted. My friends over at the Jewel Riders Archive are kicking off a year-long 25th anniversary celebration  in a big way. Instead of attending a panel or screening , I celebrated this princess anniversary with a Skype party in which I got together with the Jewel Riders Archive, the founding member of the original Avalon fansite, and a prominent fan artist from the early days of the fandom to record a podcast where we discussed our favorite memories of the show. It was a huge honor to be included in this elite group of fans. The world of Jewel Riders has been a major inspiration for many of the stories I have written  in the past, leading up my most recent one, The Stolen Jewel . The Princess Blog recently celebrated its two year anniversary , and I owe some of its inspiration to t...

Unicorns of Balinor is a series of children's books by Mary Stanton , who was one of the writers for my favorite cartoon,  Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders . I learned about it after reading a review on the Jewel Riders Archive . The unfinished series consists of eight short chapter books about a girl named Ari who leans she was once a princess from a magical land called Balinor. The story contains elements of Anastasia , Jewel Riders, and Wicked . Though it helps to read them in order, any of the books can easily be enjoyed on its own. Each one tells a complete adventure story with a clear beginning, middle, and end. This is not the only Jewel Riders-inspired book series from the turn of the millennium. Avalon: Web of Magic  by Rachel Roberts  was another series of chapter books about girls from the real world who also learn that unicorns and magic exist in a different realm. Her books incorporated lyrics directly from the original Jewel Riders soundtra...

A common misconception among princess haters is that princesses and the people who admire them are selfish and greedy  because they live in a castle and have enough money to get anything they want. True fans know that this isn't the case. Princesses from fantasy worlds are portrayed as kind and selfless and often want to escape the confines of their castle or tower. This desire for freedom often brings them to the most beautiful secluded environments of peace and serenity. Disney's 1959 animated classic Sleeping Beauty  set the standards for this with its gorgeous anamorphic background paintings of rectangular trees and woodland creatures who feel right at home alongside the lovely Briar Rose, who embraces the tranquility of her little cottage in the woods. Since then, princesses have often been associated with flowers and nature as a reflection of their own natural beauty and innocence. Recently, I discovered a Chinese drama on Netflix called Ashes of Love that brilli...

It's been a while since I posted anything for  Story Saturday . I am pleased to announce that one of my previous stories, "The Dragon and the Runt,"  was recited recently on a podcast called Fairy Tales for Unwanted Children ! Today, I have a different type of short story to share with you. My friends over at the Jewel Riders Archive  have posted a writer challenge  to come up with a concept for a potential third season of Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders . Jewel Riders is one of my favorite shows of all time, so I had to give this challenge a shot. The concept is inspired by the fantastic art board designs by toy designer Greg Auture  for the third wave of Jewel Riders dolls that never got produced due to the show's untimely cancellation after the second season. Just to clarify, this is my own interpretation of a potential third season. I have no affiliation with the creators of the show. If you'd like to catch up with the show leading up to my concept, ...

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic  recently began its eighth season, making the unfortunate decision to focus more on the plot of the sub-par movie  than the epic new characters that were introduced in the season finale . Even though this colorful series about winged unicorn princesses has been losing some traction over the past few years, the incorporation of unicorns into everyday life has not. Within the past month, I have seen promotions for a unicorn cereal , unicorn ice cream , and even unicorn nail art . There have also been many unicorn-themed makeup kits that popping up over the past few years. Who can forget all the fuss last year over Starbuck's limited edition Unicorn Frappuccino ? When it comes to unicorns, you either get it or you don't. There is no in between. If you're wondering why does this generation seem to leap at the chance to add some sparkly pastel-colored magic to their everyday lives, please read on. For many, it simply comes down to feelin...

It seems like everywhere you turn, a series from our childhood is getting revived. From Fuller House to Raven's Home, all of our favorite characters have grown up and gotten smartphones. There was even a new Hey Arnold! movie recently. What does that mean for princesses? A ton of live-action remakes , for one thing. That doesn't mean that animation is completely dead, though. Lately, there have been several announcements about our favorite childhood princess cartoons getting revived with new artwork and new stories. This is good news for traditional artists because it means that CGI still hasn't completely taken over the world of animation. It also means we have an opportunity to relive the things that made us happy as children without the awkward feeling of being outdated. The most recent announcement is about everyone's favorite animated warrior princess from the '80s,  She-Ra: Princess of Power . This reboot of He-Man that started as a good idea, but wa...