At the tender age of 10, my life changed when I met a pirate. An early morning at home led me to the television, and it was there I stumbled upon a boy named Monkey D. Luffy. With a name like that, I paused long enough with a bowl of cereal in hand to meet Luffy’s larger-than-life crew. It’s been over 20 years since the vast world of One Piece fell into my lap, and in that time, one piece of advice from Luffy keeps me on track:
“If you don’t take risks, you can’t create a future.”
For over a decade, Luffy’s tenacious spirit has helped guide me along with his unorthodox advice as I’ve carved out my own career. The headstrong lessons One Piece left me with as a child pushed me to pursue my own passions, and my love of anime brought me to ScreenRant.
SETTING SAIL DESPITE THE RISK
As a lifelong writer, I always hoped my career would bring me face to face with storytelling. A brief foray into pre-medicine during college acted as a reckoning for me as I was forced to acknowledge my dream. In the same way Luffy cried out his desire to become the King of the Pirates, I made a stand in college to pursue writing. While pursuing my undergraduate degree in English, I began freelancing for experience, but it wasn’t until 2016 that I began working full-time. I began covering entertainment journalism in earnest at ComicBook.com, and it was there I got a taste for everything the industry had to offer.
From late-night shifts to in-person event coverage, my time at ComicBook.com expanded immeasurably. It didn’t take long for me to seed the site’s anime coverage in my off hours, and by 2017, the channel was one of the site’s top performing. I went on to lead ComicBook.com forward through a number of acquisitions before I felt a need for change nearly a decade in.
ASSEMBLING THE PERFECT CREW
As I sailed through my career, a new wind blew me to a new course in 2024 when opportunity caught my sails. The chance to join ScreenRant as its Deputy Editor overseeing Comics, Anime, and Manga was too great to ignore. Despite my tenure elsewhere, Luffy’s call for courage told me to take the plunge. Leaving my previous work behind, I joined ScreenRant with hopes of expanding my experience in the field, and I was met by a number of outstanding colleagues. From senior editors to writers, my very own ScreenRant crew came together much like the Straw Hats did… minus the Marines and bounties.
With a team under my belt, I’ve been given a taste of Luffy’s own job funnily enough. I am now the captain of my own crew, and while I may not have a Devil Fruit to my name, I’ve learned from One Piece how to rally a cause. The entertainment industry is ever changing, and when it comes to emerging media like anime, the tides are hardly predictable.
A decade ago, the idea of covering anime the same way outlets approached superhero movies was simply unheard of. The industry was considered too niche for consideration, but what is life without a challenge? In my case, perseverance and diligence helped me find in-roads to the industry. The anime community is a deeply personal one that can sniff out a fake fan with ease. In order to cover the industry’s top news with care, I found myself diving into the fandom, and it was there I learned why anime is on the rise. No community rallies together like the anime fandom, and the fandom’s digital footprint is what has pushed the industry to the forefront of entertainment.
A NEW ERA IS ON THE HORIZON
While comics have dominated storytelling in Hollywood for more than a decade, anime is now stepping onto the global stage. In 2015, I would have never predicted the medium’s rise, but franchises like My Hero Academia and Demon Slayer have fast tracked anime’s growth. From Netflix to Disney and Sony, Hollywood giants are investing in anime in major ways. Now, I’ve been put at the helm with ScreenRant to navigate these uncharted waters, and the future has never looked more intimidating.
In the last 10 years, my work in anime and comics has led to opportunities I never could’ve imagined. From interviewing My Hero Academia’s creator to moderating SDCC panels and working abroad in Japan, the risks I’ve taken on myself have all been worth it. Despite all the uncertainty, I’ve worked hard to usher in anime’s ongoing renaissance, but it hasn’t been done alone.
It is daunting to face a rising tide solo, but with a crew at my side, I now see why Luffy was confident amidst even his toughest battles. The Straw Hats were on standby to lend Luffy aid should he call, and in the meantime, they worked together to weather any storm in their path. The landscape of entertainment journalism changes daily, but there’s never been a more exciting time to cover anime despite the uncertainties. It’s a risk, yes, but I learned long ago that such risks are the foundation of a rewarding future. And just like Luffy, I’m greedy to see what that future holds beyond the horizon.
