Anime: Kidou Senshi Gundam 0080: Pocket no Naka no Sensou

War In the Pocket (WITP) is one of the most polarized additions to the Gundam franchise. You can either love it or hate it; there is no way you will just find it average.

Assuming you are aware of how the timeline of the show goes and have read my review of the original show, so I won’t have to repeat myself, this is how it goes. WITP was created after Char’s Counterattack, which was also the point where the Universal Century lost its appeal. Before Tomino went on making lukewarm continuations and rehashes thereafter, he offered some nice side stories, the first of which is the present one. It takes place between the first and second season and revolves around the lives of minor civilians and low ranked pilots.

This is the major appeal of the side story. While the main storyline was always about elite pilots, world changing events, and the destruction of entire cities, WITP focuses entirely on the minor characters experiencing the war. We get to see how everyday, non-elite people live by without ever being distanced from what is going on around them. This in effect makes the cast to behave in a lot more realistic and down to earth way, but at the same time doesn’t have epic battles and mad piloting skills. If you are a fan of characterization, you will love how realistic they feel without plotting to change the world every ten minutes. If though you are watching Gundam for the poser action, then be ready for disappointment, since you will get very little of that.

There is still a lot of idealism regarding war, but it’s presented in an entirely different way through the eyes of its average characters. One kid for example will consider war to be cool because… well, he is a kid and all kids think it’s cool. There is a minor soldier who can only brag by telling lies of how awesome he is. There is a woman who despite her goal to aid her side to win the war still doesn’t forget to look for some love and romance. All that play out in a very basic but honest way, which makes them quite interesting for being… simple. Of course for the same reason they are hardly as memorable as Amuro or Char, since they are not overreacting all the time and don’t have crazy goals. Still, as characters they are very fleshed out despite their simplicity.

The pacing is definitely slow and dull, since it doesn’t have much of an epic build up. Most action scenes even feel unnecessary and even some character interactions play out rather boring. The best part is definitely its extremely tragic finale, where pretty much nobody gets what he wants exactly because they are all minor players inside a planetary wide war. It shows their weakness and inability to change anything and leaves you emotionally torn for seeing what a nasty effect war can have even on everyday people.

It is also quite nice in its production values for the time it was made, which further helps you to emerge into the atmosphere. It may not look so awesome today but it does its job fine.

Although it doesn’t last too much and has only a couple memorable scenes, it manages to be emotionally powerful enough to deserve a watch. It is also quite special in the franchise, since they never again tried to make a side story without poser action just like this one.

And now for some excused scorings.
[/spoiler]

Hey AniDB, with it being 2009 now and Gundam 00 keeping the franchise strong I figured it’d be a good time to go back and visit some of the older materials… so how does Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket stand up twenty years later… here’s my two cents.

Animation
Twenty years old?! Is it even watchable?
Absolutely! Though the colors don’t seem very vibrant, the character proportions and general detailing of 0080 are very well done. A few painted still images glare out, but they’re well drawn and overall the animation tries to be as realistic and consistent as possible. To compare, it felt very similar to the 1986 Transformers the Movie. I got that feeling. Dated, yes, but still enjoyable.

Any accuracy to the Gundam model kits? Which Mobile Suits are in here?
Model accuracy IS the Gundam franchise. The figures/ kits and the anime have been complimenting each other since day one. The Mobile Suits are drawn with very precise detail, weaponry, the gimmicks, everything. This OVA has uniquely to it the prototype RX-78NT-1 Gundam “Alex” and Zeons armed-to-the-gills MS-18E Kampfer unit as its centerpieces. A few classic mobile suits like Guncannon, Sniper, and Gelgoog make short appearances as well… and can’t forget the classic Zaku, he’s a major player!
• Looks/Visuals : 7/10

Sounds
I think I already know the answer… but tell me anyway, how’s the OST?
Ouch haha, the most dated element here. Happy upbeat synth pop. Reeks of that reckless optimism, carefree, joyful exuberance associated with the 80’s. You’ll blush with embarrassment. I guess, for the main character it’s actually quite fitting though. Maybe, I dunno. I highly recommend watching this series with headphones on so no one else has to hear it.

What did you think of the Seiyuu’s performance?
The Seiyuu are serious and passionate here just as much as they are with today’s new Anime. Proper voices to the characters, taken seriously and presented well. Daisuke Namikawa voicing Al is notably annoying with the constant shrieking “Bernie, Bernie”, it just sounds “odd”… but he’s supposed to be a rambunctious kid so it fits and I forgive him.

So the Seiyuu, where are they now? What did they go on to do?
Well twenty years later Daisuke Namikawa is back in Gundam, currently voicing Michael Trinity in Gundam 00. How cool is that? Koji Tsujitani voices Bernard, he’s probably most known as the voice of Mirouku in Inuyasha. If you watch the English Dub though you get no less than the man himself, SOLID SNAKE (aka David Hayter) voicing Bernie. And Megumi Hayashibara performs as Christina Mackenzie, who goes on to play Cowboy Bebop’s Faye Valentine. And if you watch the English Dub, Faye’s American counterpart Wendee Lee voices Christina. So Christina will sound like Faye no matter what. It’s a small world right?
• Score/Voice Acting : 6/10

Story
The original MS Gundam takes place in UC-0079… what’s going on one year later?
Chronologically in the Universal Century, this story takes place at the very end of the original series. So we don’t see it here at all, but know that Zeon has been getting terribly beat down by Amuro Rays Gundam unit. When Zeon learns of a new Prototype Gundam being secretly built on the neutral colony Side Six they send in a secret strike force to infiltrate and capture or destroy “the monster”.

War Zone Realities, Anti-War, Tragedy… Sounds like standard Gundam stuff, but what’s this “Coming of Age” and “Painfully Naïve Kid” bit… explain yourself soldier?
-Ah, this is the truly unique part of War in the Pocket. Rather than take the standard point of view and follow around a New-Type, or other Gundam Hero/Pilot, War in the Pocket follows around a young boy named Al who lives on a Neutral Space Colony. When the war spills over into his home he’s awestruck by it all. It's by random chance, curiosity and persistence Al manages to get involved… only on the side of Zeon.
• Story : 7/10

Characters
Only 6 episodes… is that enough time to build a solid cast and give us a “beautiful friendship”?
Sure, because the focus is really only on two characters, Bernard Wiseman, a rookie mobile suit pilot from the Principality of Zeon. And Alfred Izuruha, an 11 year old boy who like other little boys in his school thinks the war is neat and dreams of battles he can’t fully comprehend. The characters develop and bond quickly and surprisingly in a realistic manner. Bernie wants to be a hero and Al wants to befriend one. It’s innocent and simple, and by the end you know them and their plights enough and are curious to see how their fates play out.
• Characters : 6/10

Value
Let’s say I’ve never seen a Gundam series. How does this one stack up to the other Gundam?
Hmm… well, it’s not exactly comparable to the other Gundam series. The main character is a non combatant and there’s much less focus on the action and politics. If you want to see Gundam for what Gundam is known for, then this is not for you… “Alex” has maybe four minutes of screen time, and that’s counting being in-active. However, the story, pacing and characters are strong enough to stand on their own, so you can easily enjoy it anyway if you know squat about Gundams.

So if it came down to it… build a Master Grade Kampfer kit, or watch the anime he’s in? What’s the better use of my time?
Well the OVA is guaranteed to take you only 120 minutes… you probably can’t make your MG kit that good in that short time. So consider this series the shorter investment of your time. Short anime that’s good is a beautiful thing. But hey, the kits are fun too!!
• Value : 9/10

Enjoyment
Gotta say, it all sounds peachy.
I enjoyed it. I really liked that it was simple, and yet clever at the same time. I should’ve seen where it was going but I didn’t, and that made it all the more cool. I really liked the unique perspective into an established series, and of course the short duration boosts my rating. A lot of good in a little time! Anime with interesting worlds really need more short little OVAs like this.

Favorite moment or line?
Well seeing Kampfer was my favorite visual, but my favorite line was “he’s mincemeat”. How often do you hear that?
• Enjoyment : 8/10

Overall : 7

If you read it, please rate it
Thanks!

Set at roughly the same time as the end of the One Year War of the original Gundam series, War in the Pocket tells the story of a young boy who thinks that war is a cool thing, that is until everything literally unfolds before him.

War in the Pocket is the first MSG series to feature a more human characterization between the two parties in conflict. It accurately portrays one of the facts of war, in which the line between good and evil is blurred; and where personal belief stands more than hatred or loyalty towards others.

The animation here is well done for a series its age. Movements are fluid, making the battle scenes look exciting. Also I appreciate the new take on custom MS's, making them look meaner and more intimidating. But again, it is the characters that truly make the series shine. Al is a young junkie who wishes for war to come. As with all kids his age, to him mechs are simply cool and that getting a break from class is not that bad of a thought. Soon enough he gets his wish granted as one day a Zaku suddenly appears, then hovers above their school and subsequently crashes at a park nearby. This starts off a chain of events in which the relationship between Al, Bernie and Chris forms.

The characters are truly fleshed out, especially Bernie and Al. Bernie is your typical greenhorn pilot, flashy yet naive. He tells tall stories to Al, bragging himself off but in reality he is more of an errand boy in his squad. Al has the most development, and he is as real as it can be. After witnessing firsthand what and how a war can be, he realizes that it's not all fun and games. It is quite a poignant moment seeing Al cry at the end as it is announced that the war has ended, while his friends are up and about clamoring for the next war to come.

The tragedy between Chris and Bernie is a sight to see. How they never made it to a second date is quite a pain, and that if only they were not so idealistic everything wouldn't have happened. But it is one of the realities of life. Personal values are upheld, and choices are to be made. In the end, each has to go his own path and whether that leads to happiness or otherwise is another matter.

I don't know if it would appeal to new fans, due to its old age and a deal of anonymity. But still I highly recommend the show.

A contemorary (inside the series chronology) of the original Mobile Suit Gundam, this OAV series does well to provide new points of view on the One Year War.

Animation: 8
This series was done in 1989, however the animation may surprise you. Every episode is well drawn and animated. Foregrounds and backgrounds are bright and vibrant, animation is smooth and detailed. As a largely character-driven piece, this series doesn't rely heavily on it's animation, but it is none the less of very high quality. Character designs by Haruhiko Mikimoto shine as well as the few, brief appearances of mobile suits.

Sound: 7
There's nothing truly spectacular here, everything and everyone does its job and does it well. The opening and ending tracks are quite nice and evocative. Nothing stands out of place, all facets are well executed but nothing deserving special praise.

Story: 9
Set near the end of Mobile Suit Gundam's One Year War, but away from the action in one of the colonies of Side 6, the tale told in War in the Pocket truly shines. It brings a whole new perspective to the already balanced world shown in MS Gundam. The people on the other side in a war aren't necessarily evil, ugly aliens. They are people. People just like you. Maybe in a slightly different world, you'd be friends with the guy you're trying to kill. As such, the tale follows Al, a young boy in Side 6. He's enamoured with the new mobile suits being used in the war, and befriends a pilot who gets shot down in a skirmish inside the colony. The pilot of a Zeon Zaku. He helps his new friend, Bernard; even introduces him to the pretty girl next door, Christine MacKenzie.

As you follow Al and Bernard, you see that they're just doing what they think is right, you get real compassion for someone who is ostensibly the bad guy. If all Zeons are bad, why is it that Bernie is such a nice, kind guy? He wants to do the right thing, protect the people he cares about. As the series builds to a climax, you can see events coming that you desperately hope won't. Something bad has to happen to someone you like.

Sometimes, in a war, no one really wins.

Character: 8
The key to the plot pulling you in so much in War in the Pocket is compelling characters. You can intuitively understand how everyone comes to the decisions they do. They grow and interact in such ordinary human ways that you can't help but sympathize with all the key characters, be they Federation soldier or Zeon trooper. The characters themselves make the conflict of the plot so gut-wrenching.

My only, minor, gripe is that I'd like a tiny bit more development of Christine. But I see also how that would be difficult to do.

Value: 8
Tremendously rewatchable, the story craft in this OAV series makes it so compelling you have to see it again

Enjoyment: 9
Brilliant and gut-wrenching. Sci-fi, but so real it almost hurts. See this series.

Inspite of its age this turned out to be a nice watch. The story at first is nothing to care for, however it all builds up to a powerful conclusion. Something that made me think at the masterful irony presented in this situation. The direction is fantastic as we see war in the eyes of a little boy.. who has little idea of the bigger forces at work and is totally indulged in his own fantasies of how "cool" the Gundams are. Being young also means extremely idealistic when it counts. However war being what it is presents a conclusion that totally .. well agrees to disagree.

Pretty cryptic.. watch and see for yourself what I mean.

Conclusion: Well thought out, one of the better Gundam series after 08th MS Team, perhaps in some ways even better.