DO you still remember your childhood comic idols like Astro Boy, Kimba and Princess Knight? These lovable characters created by the great Japanese animator Osamu Tezuka are fondly-remembered by millions of audiences throughout the world. The Hong Kong Arts Centre is going to showcase the best works of the Japanese animator this month. Osamu Tezuka started to love comics and animations since he was a child. Learning to value life after World War II, he liked to express the sacredness of peace and life in his comics and animations. The messages in his works are simple but important: ''Love all creatures'', ''Preserve nature'', ''Do not wage war''. Mr Tezuka is also the first animator to establish story comics which has become the main stream of the present Japanese comics. Film screenings consist of six programmes featuring 20 of Mr Tezuka's renowned animation pieces. To give the audience a better understanding of his work, an exhibition entitled ''Mastercopies and Promotional Posters of Osamu Tezuka'' will run together with the film screenings. The exhibition will run from now till August 22 at the Pao's Galleries, 5/F, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Tickets for these film programmes are now available at the Arts Centre box office and at all URBTIX outlets. For reservations, call 8771000 or 734 9009.
