As we’ve been posting about our first time at Angoulême’s annual Festival International de la Bande Dessinée (scroll down for all the links), we had to dedicate one post to the one and only, irreplaceable, genius and God of Manga himself – Osamu Tezuka! The festival paid their love and respects in a retrospective called, “Manga no Kamisama”. We literally drooled over 200 ORIGINAL pieces of art, touched by the hand that has inspired and entertained millions. Some pieces dated back to the late 1940s! Mercy me! For any fan of Tezuka, who may not get the chance to see his original work, we hope you enjoy some pics from the sage of manga and anime.
Osamu Tezuka
The beautifully artistic, innovative and prodigiously productive Osamu Tezuka has a 40-year career. He created over 700 manga series and drew over 150,000 pages. A mere fraction of his works have been published in English so far, but what is available knocks the socks off all of us! Some of his titles include:
- Lost World / Zenseiki (1948)
- Metropolis / Metoroporisu (1949)
- Nextworld / Kurubeki Sekai (1951)
- Astro Boy / Tetsuwan Atomu (1952-1968)
- Princess Knight / Ribon no Kishi (1953-1968)
- Crime and Punishment / Tsumi To Batsu (1953)
- Dororo (1967-1968)
- Phoenix / Hi no Tori (1967-1988)
- Swallowing the Earth / Chikyu o Nomu (1968-1969)
- Apollo’s Song / Aporo no Uta (1970)
- The Book of Human Insects / Ningen Konchuuki (1970-1971)
- Ode to Kirihito / Kirihito no Sanka (1970-1971)
- Ayako (1972-1973)
- Buddha (1972-1983)
- Black Jack / Burakku Jakku (1973-1983)
- MW / Muu (1976-1978)
- A Message to Adolf / Adorufu ni Tsugu (1983-1985)
Manga no Kamisama
The “Manga no Kamisama” showcase was held in the Cathédrale Saint-Pierre d’Angoulême (1100 – 1128 AD). It seemed fitting that the “God of Manga” exhibit was housed in a French cathedral.
Astro Boy
Mighty Atom (鉄腕アトム) known in the English as Astro Boy, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Osamu Tezuka. It was serialized in Kobunsha‘s Shōnen from 1952 to 1968, with 112 chapters collected into 23 tankōbon volumes by Akita Shoten.
“The TV animation series, Astro Boy is known as one of Osamu Tezuka‘s seminal works that changed the history of Japanese Animation.
As the first Japanese 30 min. animation series, it’s also established the base of today’s prosperity of Japanese Animation culture.
With the highest viewer rate of 40.7 percent, the series attracted a wide range of audience, from kids till adults, creating a sensation nationwide. The series was also aired in various countries including America, China and European countries. The original manga work, serialized from 1952 till 1968 on the monthly boy’s magazine, was also known as his representative manga work.” [read more…]
Various original pages
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