Osamu Tezuka (1928-1989) is known as the Godfather of Manga and the Japanese Walt Disney, but these superlatives do him a disservice. He is the most influential manga artist and animator of all time.

Tezuka defined the cinematic language and visual style of Japanese comic art. Every Japanese animator and cartoonist that followed remains in his debt, even if it is only for the huge Disney-style eyes still seen on manga characters today. Tezuka was a pioneer in animation, founding his own company who went on to become the first to find an audience in the West with hit cartoons such as Astro Boy.

Tezuka produced over 150,000 pages of comics in his lifetime and created enduring stories for children such as Princess Knight and Kimba the White Lion (later “reimagined” as the Lion King by Disney). Tezuka also wrote the adult manga Black Jack and won the Eisner Award for his masterpiece on the life of Buddha. He was a technically brilliant artist in his own right, and this exhibition showcases his line-work and composition through a selection of enlarged copies of individual comic pages.

This exhibition is organised by the children’s literacy charity, Upside Comics, to help raise awareness of his life and work.

There will be drop-in workshops on making your own comic for children and young people aged 10 and up. Children must be accompanied by parents or carers at all times:
Friday 8 April,  2pm
Saturday 9 April, 2pm
Sunday 10 April, 2pm

VISITING THE GALLERIES
The galleries at Phoenix Art Space are open Wednesday – Sunday, 11.00 – 17.00 during exhibition dates.

• You do not need to book in advance of your visit. Entry is free.
• Mask wearing is optional, please be considerate of those who choose to wear one.
• Our cleaners clean high-contact areas regularly.
• Sanitizer is available throughout the building.
• Please stay at home if you are feeling unwell.