Julian Cardenas

Julian is a part-time writer and contributor for UKA. He’s a young weeb living in the Philippines with a passion for anime, video games, and cars. He is also a former motoring, lifestyle and entertainment news writer for a Philippine broadsheet, where He covered cars, pop culture and anime-related topics.

Julian Cardenas is a part-time writer and contributor for UK Anime Network with a keen interest in video games, cars, and anime. Based in the Philippines, he brings a Southeast Asian perspective to his work in pop culture writing.

He is a former news writer for the Motoring, Lifestyle, and Entertainment sections of Manila Standard, one of the largest broadsheets in the Philippines. During his time there, he covered a wide range of topics, including celebrity features, automotive news, and anime—writing numerous articles across these beats.

Julian also previously worked as a marketing specialist for the office furniture brand FlexiSpot, where he connected with UKA founder Ross Locksley while seeking partners to promote a new ergonomic electric desk. Their rapport quickly formed, and Julian arranged to send Ross a desk in exchange for a product feature; an article that was well-received by both sides.

Beyond journalism and marketing, Julian has a strong passion for underappreciated anime and manga, as well as animated works from countries outside Japan. He is particularly interested in Chinese animation and has been closely following the rise of donghua, advocating for broader recognition of the industry’s unique storytelling and artistic style.