Greg Autore and the Toy Design of Jewel Riders – Part One

Hey Jewel Fans!

Super exciting news, just in time to be an amazing Christmas gift for our fandom! We here at the JRA have been in touch with Greg Autore, the Creative Director of the show/toy line, and he has graciously shared some amazing information with us.

The toy line had plans beyond the second wave. There was a third wave planned, with concept designs and even wax models made for some of the ideas. Below, we’re excited to share Greg’s descriptions as well as photos of the concepts.

Princess Gwenevere Product Wave 3 – Wild Magic
The concept behind Wave 3 was that after the normal Kingdom jewels were found in season 1 of the show, the wild magic jewels in season 2 would add unexpected magical effects to each of the girls.
These are the actual presentation boards shown for approvals in the internal Kenner meetings. The characters are drawn to be roughly the same size as the dolls to be more easily understood. Most of the boards have an added layer of sparkly film to highlight where glitter or effects in the plastic would be added.

Wave 3 Deluxe Tamara with Frost Wild Magic – Tamara has winter clothing and a headpiece shaped like a snowflake that was clear with floating glittery water inside.

Wave 3 Villainess – Her long skirt was to be molded and would open up to be a hovering throne she used to fly around in. She was to have a glitter molded blast of dark wild magic that could snap into her hand. The two part panel shows the before and after transformation.

Wave 3 Deluxe Gwenevere with Wild Sun Magic – To approximate a shining blast of sun magic, there would be a backpack that would be clear with a second layer spinning glitter plastic.

Wave 3 Prince – This new character was to be a suggested love interest for Tamara with her affinity for animals. It was a prince who was trapped by dark wild magic to take the form of an animal. The two part panel shows the before and after he transformed with snap on animal head, arms and legs.

Princess Gwenevere Wild Magic Design Presentation Boards & Wax model photos

Wild Magic Basic Gwenevere – This Gwenevere would have crystal armor that would expand and a sunstone that could be pulled out attached to a string as if it is levitating with stronger magic, then would spring back in with touch of a button. The three photos included are of the final wax sculpted parts. Note that the new look gave the girls a faceted version of chain mail on their body that would be molded translucent as if they are glowing with wild magic. This was as far as the development went before the line was cancelled.

Princess Gwenevere Tamara Wild Magic Design Presentation Boards & Wax model photos

Wave 3 Wild Magic Basic Tamara – This Tamara would have crystal armor that would expand on her gauntlet. The doll was also to have an internal mechanism to spring her arms up to defend her friends. The three photos included are of the final wax sculpted parts. Note that the new look gave the girls a faceted version of chain mail on their body that would be molded translucent as if they are glowing with wild magic. This was as far as the development went before the line was cancelled.

Princess Gwenevere Fallon Wild Magic Design Presentation Boards & Wax model photos

Wave 3 Wild Magic Basic Fallon – This Fallon would have crystal armor that would expand on her grieves visually signifying she could use enhanced speed. The figure was also to have a mechanism inside that made the legs kick back and forth fast to pretend she is running fast with wild magic. The three photos included are of the final wax sculpted parts. Note that the new look gave the girls a faceted version of chain mail on their body that would be molded translucent as if they are glowing with wild magic. This was as far as the development went before the line was cancelled.

Wave 3 Deluxe Fallon with Wild Bubble Magic
There was one more presentation board that is now lost which showed Fallon with a whirling backpack that had a pinwheel shape that moved when the child blew on it. It would pick up bubble fluid from a reservoir as it spun so bubbles flew from her. There was a rough test model of the feature made to show the mechanism would work but that is believed to have been destroyed.

Wow! Wasn’t it amazing to see these concept boards? If you are interested in owning one of these amazing pieces of Jewel Riders history, Greg is selling these boards on Ebay. It’s an amazing opportunity.

We can’t thank Greg enough for sharing these with us, and we hope you enjoy seeing this beautiful work. Stay tuned to the blog for Part Two of our series with Greg, coming soon!

Happy Holidays!

~Chris & Ronnie