Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket

Writer: Fumihiko Takayama
Director: Fumihiko Takayama
Production House: Sunrise
Review Type: OVA
Status: Completed
Genre: Mecha


Synopsis

In the final days of the One Year War, a Zeon special forces group infiltrates a colony to gather information on a new Gundam unit. Alfred Izuruha, a 10-year-old student, befriends Zeon rookie pilot Bernie Wiseman during a brief mobile suit combat. Meanwhile, Al meets up with Christina MacKenzie, his former neighbor and babysitter. Little does he know that not only is Christina a member of the Earth Federation, she's the test pilot of the new Gundam NT-4 prototype.

Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket is all about a young boy, Alfred, coming face to face with the realities of war and realizing that it's not a game, but a devastating and horrible act of humanity. This is certainly a different take to the franchise, which seems to emphasize duty and honor, over simpler, more down-to-earth human values. One aspect of this series is how both sides of the conflict get equal representation. While the Zeon forces are supposed to be the 'bad guys', it's refreshing to see that the Zeon soldiers are normal human beings, and not evil in nature. Even more interesting was the almost evil shadow cast on the Earth Federation Forces, and in the end the line between good and evil are really blurred. This however is irrelevant, because War in the Pocket isn't about good and evil, or even right and wrong. It's about people, and how their lives are affected by war.


Chibi's Pocketing Comments

Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket is the first Gundam installment that takes a drastic turn from the usual plotlines of the other sagas in the Gundam franchise. We do not see the usual indecisive, angst ridden teenagers, nor the usual antiwar sentiments and idealogies, or even invincible mobile suits. With Tomino-sensei not on any creative role in this OVA, the miniseries takes a different and a lot darker view of the franchise and would not be anybody's cup of tea. Whilst Gundam as a franchise is and has always been an antiwar statement, War in the Pocket is the first and only Gundam saga to date that truly questions war without glorifying it.

The battles portrayed in this installment aren't shown as epic conflicts but are shown merely as violence. The best asset to this OVA probably is the portrayal of consequences of one's actions, where it looks back and sees the trail of destruction war begets, like destroyed homes, debris of destroyed mobile suits and countless bullet-ridden bodies. Although the battles are intensely choreographed with beautiful animation, the horrible aftermath of the battles are also vividly shown in this OVA, bringing the realism of the One Year War to even greater heights.


The title to this OVA is exactly what it means, which brings the irony of the tale to great effect. The characters in this installment do not make any significant contribution to the One Year War, and the setting for this story also takes place in an insignificant colony in the middle of nowhere. Win or lose, the result will not affect the grand scheme of things. To top it all off, the characters cannot claim that they are 'saving the world' or doing anything glorified aside from their mission, which was destroying one prototype Gundam, making it even more ironic that likeble characters are dying for such a paltry mission.

Ultimately, War in the Pocket is simply just a chance meeting between two people. Alfred is a little boy mystified by war, whilst Bernie is a Zeon soldier living through the horrors of it. This scenario raises so many questions on the subject that there are mostly no answers to, and instead of the usual tying of loose ends this OVA just simply tells its story and let you decide for yourself. In terms of animation, this OVA is miles ahead of its time as the series could still hold its own against some other shows today, and I thoroughly recommend this installment for any action junkie or mecha freak. The end result would leave a few thoughts to ponder a long time after the OVA's conclusion. A must watch.


Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket was written and directed by Fumihiko Takayama and produced by Sunrise. It ran from March to August 1989, spanning 6 episodes.



Chibi's Review


Storyline: 5/5
Character Development: 4/5
Art: 4/5
Originality: 5/5