Job Overview

• Company Name: ForthStar (Founded by Playdemic veterans).
• Position Title: Senior Character Animator.
• Yearly Salary: £45,000 – £55,000.
• Location: Altrincham, Manchester, UK (High-spec on-site studio).
• Work Schedule: 4-Day Workweek (Monday–Thursday).
• Job Type: Full-Time.

ForthStar is an elite, veteran-led game development studio on a high-growth trajectory. Established in 2023 by the visionary founders of Playdemic (the creators behind the global phenomenon Golf Clash), Paul Gouge and Alex Rigby, ForthStar is built on the foundation of industry expertise and creative freedom. Based in the vibrant tech hub of Manchester, the studio is dedicated to crafting the next generation of “mass-appeal” free-to-play mobile hits.

The studio operates under a clear, ambitious mission: to create great games that millions of people love to play every day for years. ForthStar isn’t just a workplace; it is an inspirational space designed for highly accomplished teams who thrive on creative innovation, collaboration, and the continuous pursuit of excellence.

The Opportunity: Defining the Player Experience

As a Senior Character Animator, you will be the lifeblood of the character team. Your role is to breathe personality, humor, and visceral impact into digital assets. You aren’t just moving joints; you are defining the “feel” of the game. From the weight of a combat strike to the charm of an idle animation, your work will directly determine how players engage with ForthStar’s worlds.

This is a full-pipeline role. You will be involved from the earliest conceptual prototypes through to final technical implementation in Unity. This requires a unique blend of artistic flair and technical rigor, ensuring that animations are not only beautiful but also performant and responsive within the game engine.

Core Responsibilities: What You’ll Do

1. Rigging & Skinning

A character is only as good as its skeleton. You will be responsible for creating robust full-body and facial rigs using 3DS Max (Biped/CAT) or custom bone solvers. You will handle the intricate process of skinning models to these rigs to ensure seamless deformation during complex movements.

2. High-Fidelity Animation

Collaboration is the heartbeat of this role. You will work side-by-side with designers to ensure that every animation supports “game feel.”

• Keyframe Excellence: Delivering top-tier keyframe animations for full-body actions and expressive facial performances.
• Personality & Polish: Infusing characters with distinct traits—humor, power, or agility—that resonate with a mass audience.

3. Unity Implementation & Technical Setup

The job doesn’t end in the DCC (Digital Content Creation) software. You will manage the integration process:

• Importing assets into Unity.
• Setting up Mecanim/Animator controllers.
• Managing complex blend trees and state machines.
• Configuring Ragdoll physics for specific gameplay scenarios.

4. Iteration and Delivery

In a fast-paced mobile environment, speed and quality must coexist. You will iterate rapidly based on feedback from playtests and leadership, ensuring all work hits quality and consistency targets while meeting production deadlines.

What ForthStar Is Looking For

Essential Qualifications:

• Compelling Showreel: You must demonstrate mastery of weight, timing, and personality. Your reel should feature a variety of actions: walking, running, combat, and even dancing.
• Fundamental Mastery: A deep, intuitive understanding of anatomy and the 12 principles of animation.
• Software Expertise: Pro-level proficiency in 3DS Max or Maya.
• Engine Knowledge: Proven experience in Unity (or a high level of technical aptitude to learn it quickly).
• Collaborative Mindset: A proactive attitude toward giving and receiving feedback in a cross-disciplinary environment.

The “Bonus” Skills (Strong Advantage):

• Mobile Experience: Previous experience navigating the constraints and optimizations of mobile platforms.
• Genre Expertise: A background in combat-focused gameplay.
• 2D Skills: Experience with 2D animation pipelines.
• Gaming Passion: A genuine love for games and an understanding of what makes them “sticky” and fun for players.

Working at ForthStar: Culture & Perks

ForthStar believes that spontaneous teamwork and face-to-face interactions drive the best results. Consequently, this role is based on-site at their high-spec studio in Altrincham, Manchester. The studio environment is designed to be high-energy and inspirational, serving as the perfect backdrop for professional growth.

Comprehensive Benefits Package:

• The 4-Day Week: A renewed annual initiative that gives you your Fridays back to recharge.
• Financial Security: Enhanced pension scheme, Group Life Cover, and a Profit-Based Bonus that aligns your success with the company’s.
• Health & Wellbeing: Private Medical Insurance, virtual GP service, Employee Assistance Programme, and an Onsite Gym.
• Commuter Support: Contract car parking, Cycle-to-Work scheme, and Commuter Season Ticket Loans.
• Family & Social: Family-friendly leave policies, a Nursery Benefit Scheme, and regular team socials to build community.
• Continuous Learning: Dedicated opportunities for professional development and learning.

Industry Context: The Manchester Gaming Hub

Manchester is currently one of the fastest-growing tech and gaming clusters in the UK. By joining ForthStar in Altrincham, you are positioning yourself at the center of a thriving ecosystem.

Market and Diversity Insights (2026 Context)

• The Mobile Surge: The UK mobile gaming market continues to expand, with projected revenues for free-to-play titles reaching record highs in 2026. This stability makes ForthStar an attractive home for veterans looking for longevity.
• Workforce Trends: The UK games industry has seen a push toward modern working models. ForthStar’s 4-day workweek puts them in the top 5% of innovative employers in the region, a move that has been shown to increase productivity by up to 20% while significantly reducing burnout.
• Diversity Commitment: ForthStar is an equal opportunities employer. The studio recognizes that to entertain a global, diverse audience, the team itself must reflect a variety of backgrounds and perspectives. In 2026, diversity in game art—from character representation to creative leadership—is a core pillar of studio success.

The Recruitment & Selection Process

ForthStar is committed to hiring only the most talented individuals. Their process is fair, objective, and thorough.

1. Screening: A review of your experience, traits, and—most importantly—your animation showreel.
2. Portfolio Deep-Dive: An evaluation of your technical rigging skills and your ability to animate within the Unity engine.
3. Interview Phase: Conversations focused on your creative process, your ability to collaborate with coders and designers, and your cultural alignment with the studio’s values.
4. Final Decision: Hiring decisions are based on a holistic view of your skills and how they contribute to the mission of making games millions will love.