Anime Evolution

<span style="font-size: 90%;">The convention that started out as a 1-day marathon of anime showings at Simon Fraser University (Burnaby BC) now has lead to a full out convention with an attendance of 5000 people! (as of 2009) This convention is young and still up'n coming please join in next time in 2010! ^^ <div style="text-align: center;"><strong>History</strong><!--center--></div> <div style="text-align: center;">[following retrieved from Anime Evolution website]<!--center--></div> Anime Evolution started out as "Anime Showcase", a 1-day public Japanese anime showing by SFU's Altered Reality Club (ARC) in 1998. This eventually expanded into a yearly three-day run at SFU Harbour Centre with participation from other local anime clubs: The Vancouver Japanese Animation Society (VJAS), The Vancouver Sleep is for Wimps Anime Team (VSWAT), and the UBC Anime Club <img src="http://www.topics-mag.com/edition24/literacy/images/sfu.vanc.jpg" border="0" /><div style="text-align: center;">SFU<!--center--></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Evolution</strong><!--center--></div> In 2002, the 3-day showcase made the leap from local campus event to a full public convention under the name of Anime Evolution (AE). Attendance grew from 300 to 1,200+(est.) as special events, vendors and industry guests were added to the video showings. The goal was to accommodate growing mainstream interest, while maintaining AE’s grassroots ties. <div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Stepping up</strong><!--center--></div> In 2008, Anime Evolution moved from its birthing ground at SFU. Due to a scheduling conflict with the university during the same weekend Anime evolution's options were either be postponed or face being canceled altogether. Luckily, through the hard work of the Anime Evolution staff, they were able to obtain the same time slot at another local university, the University of British Columbia. The convention went on without a problem and ended with total attendance for it's sixth year with just over 4,400(est.). <img src="http://www.recycle.ubc.ca/Picture%20011.jpg" border="0" /> <div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Primetime</strong><!--center--></div> 2009 marked a big change for Anime Evolution. AE was held in it's biggest venue, the newly built Vancouver Convention and Expo Centre, located in downtown Vancouver taking the whole of the 1st and 3rd floors. With an attendance of 5,000 (est.) people at the convention it hit local news with its cosplayers rooming the downtown core attracting more attendance for the following year. <div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.archithings.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/LMN-Architects-designed-Vancouver-Convention-Centre-West-features-Canadas-largest-living-roof-800x533.jpg" border="0" /> <!--link--><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver_Convention_Centre">Vancouver Convention Center</a><!--center--></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><strong>The Return</strong><!--center--></div> <!--size--></span> <strong>Resources</strong> <!--link--><a href="http://www.animecons.com/events/info.shtml/1746">animecons</a> <!--link--><a href="http://www.animeevolution.com/">AE site</a> <!--link--><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anime_evolution">wikipedia</a>