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.
Boruto Part 2 Is Already Leaving One Of Its Main Characters Behind
Kawaki became the main villain at the end of Boruto but he seems to have already lost all his relevance in Two Blue Vortex, where he shows no growth.
Spy x Family's Most Underrated Character Proves What Makes the Series so Fresh
Spy X Family's most underrate side character, Daybreak, is the perfect representation of what makes the ongoing series so special.
One Classic Anime is the Isekai Mechs Series Fans Didn't Know They Needed
After never being aired in full in the United States, the mecha isekai anime series The Vision of Escaflowne deserves much more attention than it gets
10 Most Surprising Anime That Actually Taught Fans Something
Whether it's history, science, or economics, thanks to anime, it's possible to learn some cool things from unexpected anime sources.
10 Best Sci-Fi Anime on Crunchyroll
From retro classics to currently airing series, Crunchyroll's library of Sci-Fi anime contains some can't-miss series.
How Old is the Cast of Dragon Ball in Super?
It's hard to track the age of the Dragon Ball cast, so fans may be wondering how exactly old Goku and friends are at the time of Dragon Ball Super.
Digimon 02 Reboot Movie Gets Official US Release Date
The latest reboot movie in the iconic Digimon franchise will get special screenings in 750 theaters across the United States.
10 Most Powerful Anime Swords
Legendary swords that stand out above other fictional weapons and have earned their place as the iconic weapons of iconic heroes.
Dragon Ball Fans Missed Yamcha's True Important Role In The Story
Despite the jokes about his strength, from the beginning of Dragon Ball Yamcha has always been written to serve a very important narrative role.
A One-Punch Man Hero Group Just Gained An Incredibly Powerful Asset
Fubuki tried to recruit Saitama as the newest member of the Blizzard Group, but instead she got another powerful and dangerous asset.
10 Most Iconic Mechs in Anime History
Giant robots, brilliant artificial intelligence, and cybernetic super-soldiers: anime's most important mechs, inspiring awe for decades.
How To Watch Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero was a smash hit, and here's everything fans need to know about how to watch Dragon Ball's newest movie.
A Beloved One-Punch Man's Side Character Return Is The Key To A Huge Mystery
One-Punch Man sees the return of one of the series' most beloved side characters, who could help explain the huge mystery that is God.
Every Naruto Movie In Order (And The Best Way To Watch Them)
Naruto is one of the anime series with the most movie spin-offs, but all 11 movies can be easily found and watched online.
A Forgotten Boruto Mystery Could Make A Comeback In Two Blue Vortex
A potential plot tease that was forgotten about almost immediately could end up having major implications for Boruto: Two Blue Vortex going forward.
10 Best Anime Not Set in Japan
Despite the industry's focus on Japan, there are many anime set in the real world outside Japan that are well worth watching.
10 Best Sci-Fi Anime With Female Leads
From iconic anime, to underrated cult classics and new favorites, an ever-increasing number of Sci Fi anime feature female protagonists.
10 Weirdest Slice of Life Anime
Anime is well known for exploring deliberately fanciful, whimsical, and weird spins to be put on the slice of life genre.
Zom 100 Anime Goes on Indefinite Hiatus After Mountain of Delays
The anime adaptation of Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead has recently been announced as being put on indefinite hiatus with no return date.
My Hero Academia Would Have Been A Lot Better If It Stayed True To Its Premise
My Hero Academia could have been even better by staying true to its premise of a powerless Deku working to become a hero without a Quirk