Television series

Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders

Name: Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders
Genre: Children, Fantasy
Released: 1995
Cast: Jean Louisa Kelly, Kerry Butler, Laura Dean, Deborah Allison, Bob Kaliban

A 1995 syndicated fantasy series where three teenage girls in a magical kingdom wield enchanted jewels to protect Avalon from evil. Bright, earnest, and built for Saturday mornings, it swings for genuine adventure with a girl-led cast at its centre. Nostalgic comfort for those who grew up on it; charmingly dated for everyone else.

If you liked this

She-Ra: Princess of Power1985

Girls saving the world through magic and teamwork, with a similar Saturday-morning sincerity and colourful aesthetic. The action matters, the friendships matter, and nobody apologises for either.

But The animation is stiff by modern standards, and it's unabashedly didactic in ways that feel very '80s. The pacing can drag.

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon1992

Teenage girls transformed into magical warriors who combine individual powers into something greater. It has the same blend of silliness and genuine stakes, plus an anime aesthetic that gives it surprising depth.

But Early dubs are rough, and the series is long enough to test patience. Some arcs meander before they find their footing.

The Legend of Vox Machina2022

A fantasy adventure where an ensemble cast—including strong female leads—must work together to stop magical threats. It's what happens when you give the Saturday-morning template a bigger budget and let it grow up.

But It's much darker and more violent than Jewel Riders. The tone shift from whimsy to genuine trauma might feel jarring if you want something lighter.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Unikitty!2017

Both centre a girl protagonist and her circle of friends defending a magical kingdom; both use ensemble powers to solve problems; both pitch adventure at an all-ages audience without condescension.

A animated series about a magical unicorn-cat hybrid protecting a kingdom with a council of friends. It has the same girl-led ensemble adventure DNA, but filtered through absurdist comedy and genuine heart. Brighter and weirder than you'd expect.

But The humour is hyperactive and surreal in a way that can feel exhausting. If you want straightforward adventure, the comedy noise might drive you away.

Darkwing Duck1991

A syndicated adventure series with real charm, humour that works for kids and adults, and a genuine sense of place. The episodic structure lets you drop in anywhere and have fun.

But It's not a mythology-heavy fantasy; it's a superhero comedy. If you want magic and Arthurian echoes, this won't scratch that itch.

The Owl House2020

Three young people learn magic in a demon realm and grow together through genuine friendship and danger. Modern animation, excellent writing, and a willingness to let stakes feel real beneath the adventure.

But It's framed around a larger story arc that requires sustained attention. If you want episodic stories you can watch out of order, this isn't it.

Adventure Time: Distant Lands2020

A fantasy world where magic, danger, and oddball humour coexist. It starts light but deepens unexpectedly, rewarding viewers who stick with it. Perfect if you want adventure with genuine emotional weight.

But The early seasons feel scattered and goofy in ways that might test your patience. The show only becomes thematically coherent much later.

Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha2004

Three girls with magical powers and animal companions defend reality across dimensions. It has the earnestness of '90s syndication married to anime sensibilities and surprisingly sophisticated action sequences.

But It's anime, so it's not on mainstream platforms everywhere. The premise sounds cutesy but the show is often deadly serious.

Gargoyles1994

A gothic adventure series with medieval fantasy elements, ensemble action, and writing that respects its audience. Every episode builds something larger; it's serialised before that became standard for cartoons.

But It can be grimly serious—sometimes oppressively so. There's little of Jewel Riders' lightness, and the mythology gets dense quickly.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles1990

Four heroes with distinct personalities, animal associations, and complementary powers learning to work as a team. The episodic adventure format is pure fun, and the show doesn't overthink itself.

But It's about martial arts ninja turtles, not magic or fantasy. The connection is structural, not thematic—it might feel too removed from what you loved.

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power2018

Same basic engine: girl protagonists, magical powers, defending a kingdom from evil. But this version asks harder questions about power, complicity, and what victory actually means—the grown-up version of the same story.

A full reboot that takes the original's core—girls with magic saving a kingdom—and builds something genuinely sophisticated. Beautiful animation, real stakes, and a willingness to explore what defending a world actually costs. Starts light, ends profound.

But It's a complete remake, not a continuation. If you want the original's specific tone, this won't be it. And it gets heavy in ways the original never attempted.

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power poster

Amphibia2019

Girl protagonist, animal companions, magical world, ensemble support system. But it's grounded in character growth and emotional weight rather than Jewel Riders' straightforward heroism—a coming-of-age story wearing adventure clothes.

A girl lands in a frog kingdom where she must navigate magic, friendship, and her own growth. The adventure is genuine, the humour lands, and it builds a world that feels real and lived-in. Serialised but episodic enough that you can settle in comfortably.

But The first season is slight and can feel slow. The real payoff comes later, so if you want immediate stakes and excitement, it might test you early on.