Osamu Tezuka: The Work of a Manga Master

G/F, Phase 1, Telford Plaza, Kowloon Bay

You don't have to be a manga fan to know who Astro Boy is. The flying android with rocket-powered feet remains one of the most instantly recognisable characters created by Japanese artist Osamu Tezuka.

With the 80th anniversary of Tezuka's birth next year, an exhibition of collectibles offers a glimpse into the late artist's life and work.

Organised by the MTR Shopping Centre and Tezuka Productions, the exhibition features figurines, original drawings for works such as Kimba the White Lion and Black Jack, toys and knickknacks from the Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum in Takarazuka, where the man known as the father of anime spent his childhood.

Among the highlights are a life-size Astro Boy figurine that was used as a marionette to host the TV manga series in the 70s, and a pair of Astro Boy figurines that have special meaning for Tezuka's son, Makoto.

'They were by my bed when I was growing up.' says the 45-year-old, who visited Hong Kong for the first time to launch the exhibition on Sunday. 'I felt they were around me all the time.'

Among items never seen before is a portrait of the artist drawn by his wife.