Young Limerick animator makes a mark on the world of film

Mikey Mahon submitted ‘Boy v Box’ to the Fresh Film Festival, winning 3rd place Award in the Junior Category in 2023.  He was awarded 2nd place in 2024 for his film ‘Autocorrect’.

Mikey Mahon from Westbury is a regular on the red carpet of film festivals at home and abroad

The talented young Limerick man, Mikey Mahon, has had a number of successes in recent times as the creator of a number of wry, observant and very funny short films.

Mikey is a keen artist and computer whizz.  It would seem these skills naturally come together for him as an extremely talented animator and filmmaker.  His animation shorts view everyday situations with a dark, comic edge that immediately resonates with audiences. From his first win for animation at age 10, Mikey has regularly impressed the judges of local, national and international film festivals.

‘Boy v Box’, a 2.47-minute animation, won the Best Film: Teachers Choice 2022 prize in his primary school, Scoil Ide.  Mr O’Connor, who has led film-making and animation projects in Scoil Ide for a number of years, said of Mikey,  “I first experienced Mikey’s animation skills when he sent in a submission for the very first Scoil Ide Film Festival in 2022.

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“I was blown away by the raw talent. He claimed his first award that year and went on to collect awards in the following two years as well. As the awards and recognition in other festivals began to stack up, I have enjoyed watching this incredible talent grow and develop. His comic timing, animation skills and unique take on everyday life seem way beyond his years. His animations are instantly recognisable as “Mikey Mahon” productions and draw a well-deserved following.”

Mikey explained that each second of film takes 24 drawings.  The behind-the-scenes work of each two to three-minute short film involves weeks of planning and hours of incredibly detailed drawing.  

‘Boy v Box’ was submitted to the Fresh Film Festival, winning 3rd place Award in the Junior Category in 2023.  He was awarded 2nd place in 2024 for his film ‘Autocorrect’.

Now in first year at St Anne’s Secondary School, Killaloe, Mikey continues to create films.  ‘Dreamzzzz’ and ‘Cinemaniacs’  were recently screened at Fresh Film’s Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year finals.  

Most recently being nominated for the Animation Ireland Award at the Fresh Film Munster Regional Finals with ‘Cinemaniacs’, he attended the Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the year finals in Dublin at the Omniplex Cinema, Rathmines.

Fresh Film, based in Limerick,  runs year-round education programmes, supports young Irish film-makers and hosts the annual Fresh Film Awards at school, local and national levels and more lately, Fresh International.  Mikey’s skill in animation and film-making has also led to an invitation to be a judge of Ireland’s Junior Young Filmmaker of the Year 2025.

Jayne Foley, Artistic Director of Fresh Film, said, “We are thrilled to support Mikey, whose unique animation style has captured the imagination of audiences and judges alike. Winning the Juniors at Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year and making it to the Senior finals at just 13 years old is an extraordinary achievement. Mikey’s talent, creativity, and drive are inspiring, and we are excited to continue championing his journey.”

He has also received international acclaim, winning Best Animation for ‘Boy vs Box’ at the Wicked Wales Film Festival 2023.  Though a highlight for Mikey was a recent trip to the REC Film Festival Berlin in 2024 where his film ‘Autocorrect’ received first honourable mention.  

Mum and Dad, Maria and Keith Mahon, are very proud and supportive of their budding filmmaker. “We are so proud of Mikey and his accomplishments.  His imagination and love of storytelling were apparent at a very early age.  When animating, he is detailed, focused and his films allow his sense of humour and witto shine through.”

Already in demand as a filmmaker, Mikey has received offers to collaborate on new work and was delighted to be invited back to Scoil Ide to share his experience and insights with his old primary school for a 5-week after-school Animation Club.  Mr O’Connor noted how,  ‘It has been particularly satisfying to watch Mikey return to Scoil Ide to lead animation workshops in our Animation Club. To watch him pass his trade onto the school’s up-and-coming animators has been inspiring. And after working with him in this setting, I can truly say his animation talent is matched with a gentlemanly manner.”

A generous, talented and inspiring young man, we look forward to seeing this Limerick film-maker’s career develop.