Balthazar Blake is a master sorcerer in modern-day Manhattan trying to defend the city from his arch-nemesis, Maxim Horvath. Balthazar can't do it alone, so he recruits Dave Stutler, a seemingly average guy who demonstrates hidden potential, as his reluctant protégé. The sorcerer gives his unwilling accomplice a crash course in the art and science of magic, and together, these unlikely partners work to stop the forces of darkness.
Every hundred years, the evil sorceress Morgana returns to claim Fingall's talisman from Merlin, with which she intends to destroy the world. For the last fourteen hundred years she has failed... now she intends to conquer all. Young Ben Clark moves with his parents to a new town, where he befriends his elderly magician neighbor, Milner. Ben has a natural talent for magic and wants to learn all that he can from this old man. Ben carries the same scar as the original staff-bearer 1,400 years before. Both Morgana and Milner, who is revealed to be Merlin, see this as a sign that this time, the battle between good and evil will be stronger and harder than ever. Ben must make his own choice between good and evil as he is drawn into a battle and must draw on his own spirit and magic to decide which path to follow and hence, the fate of the world as we know it.
Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders is an American fantasy themed cartoon television series produced by Bohbot Productions and Hasbro with association with Hong Ying Animation in 1995. Each episode was constructed as an animated minimusical, aimed at children aged four and older. Internationally syndicated by Bohbot Entertainment, the international version has the title character renamed to Starla. There is a special emphasis on the "power of friendship", which enables the titular Jewel Riders, the three adolescent girl defenders of this enchanted kingdom, to overcome their adversaries. The show's action is set in the legendary island of Avalon, here portrayed as a fairy tale style utopia that keeps its magical energies in check with the aid of the seven royal Crown Jewels. The plot follows the quest of Avalon's young princess Gwenevere and her friends Fallon and Tamara to secure the scattered enchanted jewels, stop the evil Lady Kale from taking over the kingdom, restore harmony in magic and bring their mentor Merlin home. In the second season, the Jewel Riders receive more powers and new costumes; a new villain, Morgana, is also introduced in addition to the returning Kale, as is a new set of magical jewels to find. In the original version of the show, the title character has her name similar with Arthur's wife, Guinevere; other Arthurian characters in the show include Merlin and Lady of the Lake.
