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Joel Balkovec-Anime Features Writer

Joel Balkovec

Anime Features Writer

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About Joel Balkovec

From Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Joel Balkovec is an Anime Features Writer for Screen Rant.

He is a professional writer and editor whose creative writing, narrative non-fiction, and reporting have appeared on various local and international websites.

For Screen Rant, he writes primarily about Fantasy and History-themed anime and cult classic animes from the 80s through the 2000s.


Read his articles here, follow him on X at https://twitter.com/thisisjnb and read his creative writing at https://realmgard.com.

Author Details

Joel Balkovec is an Anime Features Writer for Screen Rant. He is a professional writer and editor whose creative writing, narrative non-fiction, and reporting have appeared on various local and international websites.

For Screen Rant, he writes primarily about Fantasy and History-themed anime and cult classic animes from the 80s through the 2000s.

Industry Focus

Fantasy and History-themed anime and vintage cult classic animes from the 80s through the 2000s.

Favorite Media

Mononoke, Dragon Ball, Escaflowne, Captain Harlock, Pokémon, Inuyasha, Sailor Moon, Bubblegum Crisis, Azumanga Daioh, various cult classic animes from the 80s through the 2000s.

Latest Articles

Van and his mecha Dann from Gun X Sword 1
Trigun Gets a Mech Twist in Underrated Anime Classic More Fans Should See

Gun X Sword is an underrated anime that is inspired by Trigun's cowboy tones, but adds a lot to that premise, including mecha.

The Heike Story's Main Character Biwa Over Japanese Art 1
Anime Fans More Interested in Feudal Japan Need to Watch One Underrated Series

The Heike Story anime series is the perfect place to start for anime fans interested in learning more about the history of Feudal Japan.

Ginyu Force Posing 1
One Evil Dragon Ball Team is the Perfect Example of What Makes The Series So Unique

The Ginyu Force is the Dragon Ball franchise's best example of Akira Toriyama's signature style of blending comedy and action.

My Hero Academia's Iida, Sailor Moon, & Android 18 1
10 Strongest Anime Characters Who Kick

Many famous anime characters favor kick-based fighting styles, and the 10 strongest have gone down as some of the best unarmed fighters.

Bubblegum Crisis Key visual featuring the main cast standing in front of the Adpolice building. 1
Fans of Cyberpunk Need to Watch One 80s Anime Classic

Bubblegum Crisis is a fun, stylish approach to sci-fi anime that every fan of series like Cyberpunk: Edgerunners should be willing to give a chance.

Gundam's First Anime Remains One of the Series' Best, Decades Later 1
Gundam's First Anime Remains One of the Series' Best, Decades Later

The original Mobile Suit Gundam still remains the franchise's best installment, even after years of new seasons, stories, and characters.

Osamu Tezuka Princess Knight anime visual. 1
The First Magical Girl Series Was Way Ahead of its Time

Predating other iconic series by decades, Osamu Tezuka's Princess Knight is held up as a major early influence on the Magical Girl anime genre.

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10 Best Christmas Anime Perfect For Getting Into the Holiday Season

The best holiday episodes and specials to get into the Christmas spirit - from families coming together to Christmas Eve confessions of love!

Dragon Ball's First Arc Holds Up 4 Decades Later Despite Some Poorly Aged Jokes 1
Dragon Ball's First Arc Holds Up 4 Decades Later, Despite Some Poorly Aged Jokes

Dragon Ball has come a long way in 40 years, but the first story arc is still worth watching even though the humor has aged poorly.

10 Best Anime That Followed One Piece's Legacy 1
10 Best Anime That Followed One Piece's Legacy

It's not surprising that Eiichiro Oda's beloved series has been so influential on many manga and anime that have come after.

Naruto Fans Looking For a Darker & More Mature Version Need to Watch One Ninja Anime 1
Naruto Fans Looking For a Darker & More Mature Version Need to Watch One Ninja Anime

The 2005 series Basilisk is a compelling dark and grim take counterpoint to relatively light-hearted shonen ninja series like Naruto.

10 Best Anime Sequel Movies, Ranked 1
10 Best Anime Sequel Movies, Ranked

The best anime sequel movies play important roles in the stories of their franchises and are enjoyable watches in their own right.

10 Best Teams In Anime featured image featuring Dragon Ball, Ash and Lucario from Pokemon, and K-On! 1
10 Best Teams In Anime

Some anime characters have become icons by themselves, but the best teams in anime demonstrate how iconic characters are better together

Lodoss War Anime official visual from 1990. 1
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Classic Fantasy Series is The Unofficial Dungeons & Dragons Anime Fans Need

Anime fans should be aware that the classic 1990s series Record of Lodoss War is the best unofficial Dungeons & Dragons adaptation.

10 Best Anime Based on Light Novels 1
10 Best Anime Based on Light Novels

The best anime based on light novels show that these literary works can provide an excellent foundation for anime adaptations as well.

Screenshot from One Piece anime episode 1072 shows Luffy's giant Gear 5th head exploding through a large ceiling in front of Kaido's goons. Everyone's face (including Luffy) is so shocked that their eyes are popping out of their heads. 1
Luffy's Gear 5 Confirms the Surprising One Piece Inspiration Fans Missed

In addition to granting Luffy impressive powers, the Gear 5 form is also a fascinating shout-out to the history of classic cartoons.

10 Best Monster Anime Every Horror Fan Needs to Watch Before Halloween 1
10 Best Monster Anime Every Horror Fan Needs to Watch

From kaiju to restless ghosts, there are plenty of anime monsters that will make even the most die-hard horror fans scream in terror and delight.

Goku in Ultra Instinct and Luffy in Gear 5 1
Ultra Instinct Goku & Gear 5 Luffy Finally Fight In Unreal New Art

Fans who want to witness an epic fight between Dragon Ball's Ultra Instinct Goku and One Piece's Gear 5 Luffy now have the chance to do so.

Godzilla's Netflix Adaptations 1
Godzilla Fans Need to Check Out Some of His Most Underrated Adaptations on Netflix

The Netflix Godzilla anime adaptations contain some of the coolest and most unique depictions of Godzilla in the franchise's history.

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10 Best Anime Every History Nerd Needs to Watch

Historical fiction is a surprisingly popular genre among anime fans, with key standout series making them a must-watch on anybody's watch list.

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