I meant to write this one about a month ago after the event itself but I've been busy so here goes anyway.
I'm actually going to keep this one pretty short.

It was a fun event but when compared to previous years probably not the best one I've been to.
This was their first year in a convention centre as opposed to the usual university campus type deal they go with.
The only thing I really found an improvement on was with the Vendors room because it was nice and open and had the Artists Alley and any comic artist tables closeby.
However half the Artist Alley was hard to find. I knew it was over on the other side of the curtain but I couldn't see a way into it and when I did find it the noise over there was nasty.
They had main events 2 set up right beside that section of the Artist Alley, close to a set of speakers. If there was ever a time I wish I knew sign language that would definitely have been it.
The sound made it nearly impossible to ask any of the artists questions or even hear their responses if they managed to hear what I was asking.

From what I'd heard as well most people didn't even know they were on the other side of the curtain because it was so tall. One artist said that they were going to put up a lower curtain on Sunday so that people could see them but then it didn't happen.

I have to say though I found all the attractions and panels I went to were worth it this was definitely not my favourite layout for this event.

In 2008 it was held at UBC. In comparison I prefer UBC but my favourite has been Simon Fraser, where they held the event previously for a number of years.

The one question I probably asked every con-goer that I'd found had been at the event when it was held at both UBC and Simon Fraser was: "What was your favourite venue?"
Every answer I got back was Simon Fraser.

I don't know if Anime Evolution will go back to a university campus after this year. I find it unlikely as most events when the hit a convention centre tend to stay at one.
However I do hope that any problems they had at this year will be ironed out for 2010.

It was their first time at this venue so most of the problems I heard about I give quite a bit of leeway on. Though I think a number of them could have been avoided as well if someone had thought about what was going on.