An app developed by BYU animation professor Ryan Woodward was recently named the best entertainment app of 2012 by Apps Magazine, edging out Netflix. The app, Bottom of the Ninth blends the genres of comic book, novel, and computer animation.
Released for iOS during the summer of 2012, Bottom of the Ninth tells the story of an 18-year-old pitcher named Candy Cunningham who lives in the year 2172. As a female baseball player in a male-dominated sport, she faces not only the challenge of opposing teams, but also the disapproval of fans who want to see a man on the pitcher’s mound. Bottom of the Ninth is the “first issue” in a series of 10 comic-book style apps that will tell Candy Cunningham’s story.
The app is revolutionary by combining great storytelling with touch-activated voices, animation and music. Former Major League Baseball outfielder and two-time Most Valuable Player Dale Murphy narrates the app, giving it an authentic feel.
With an associate’s from Rick’s College, a BFA in illustration from BYU and an MFA from Academy of Art University, Woodward has worked in both professional and academic settings. His experience includes work on two Spiderman movies, The Avengers, Snow White and the Huntsman, Cowboys and Aliens and Iron Man 2. Google even featured Woodward’s artwork on May 11, 2011 as a Google Doodle. He currently teaches animation classes at BYU.