Grieving Shankill dad's touching tribute to late daughter in bonfire video game

Grieving Shankill dad's touching tribute to late daughter in bonfire video game David Watson has paid tribute to 'his little animation tester' Charlie who died last year aged five in his new video game 20:21, 06 Jul 2026 Updated 20:28, 06 Jul 2026 A grieving dad has paid a touching tribute to his five-year-old daughter who died last year in a new video game based around the July bonfires in Belfast. ‌ Charlie Watson passed away on July 5, 2025, following a nearly five year long battle with Neuroblastoma breaking the hearts of her parents and siblings who miss the happiness and creative that she brought into their lives everyday. ‌ Her father David, an independent animator and game developer, said he used to enjoy making animations and games for Charlie and she loved to test them for him and give him feedback on how he could make things better. She also used video games to help her escape from the difficulties that she faced during her cancer treatment, similar to how David would go to Rick's Arcade growing up on the Shankill Road to get away from the world. ‌ Following Charlie's passing he said "didn't know where he was in life" and was struggling to cope with the grief of losing his little girl. Then around five months ago he was asked to create a fire animation for someone which led to him developing the idea for a game based around bonfire building and his childhood growing up on the Shankill, with the project helping him escape from his grief while honouring his daughter's memory. On July 5, 2026, the first anniversary of Charlie's death, David completed the game, Superprod, with the five-year-old appearing throughout it on the background billboards. ‌ Speaking to David said: "When I was growing up on the Shankill, Rick's Arcade was where I went to escape from the world. It wasn't just the troubles going on but there was the AIDs crisis and the threat of nuclear war, it was mad. But at the arcade you were in a completely different place. "When Charlie was going through her treatment, which was more than anything I ever had to deal with, she used video games to escape from it all too and was able to stay our happy little girl right to the end. "She was always a very creative kid and loved checking out animation projects or little games that I would make for her. She was my little tester and always wanted to get involved. ‌ "For months after she passed, I didn't know what was going on, but eventually I had to get back to work. I was asked by someone to create a animation for a fire and while making it I got the idea for a game about bonfire building and my childhood growing up on the Shankill when I was around Charlie's age. "It is not aimed at being divisive or anything and is really just meant to capture the way you saw the world before you knew about politics and everything else going on in the world. ‌ "When I have been making the game, it has allowed me to escape again, when I am doing that, I am not really here. I then finished it on the first anniversary of her death, and I hope that it can be a little tribute to her and the great community that I grew up in." Set on Bonfire Night, players take control of Superprod after mysterious little green men steal his teddy bears and place them atop towering bonfires across the neighbourhood. Along the way, players encounter a surreal version of Belfast filled with recognisable local symbols, humour and references that reflect childhood memories of the area. Designed with simple one-touch mobile controls, Superprod is accessible to experienced gamers and newcomers alike. Article continues below You can play Superprod now at www.tinyflea.com For all the latest news, visit the homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.