The story is definitely the outstanding quality in War in the Pocket. You wouldn't quite expect this, since it's all jammed into just six episodes, but Tomino Yoshiyuki and his gang, of course, pulled it off. Impressively too. It's a little different than the others because this time we get to watch the war from the viewpoint of a typical 10 year old boy, Alfred. He's fascinated by the war and all things Mobile Suit. He takes a particular liking to the Principality of Zeon though, which again, like in many Gundam installments, more touches upon the idea that neither side in the war is truly wrong. Al befriends a beginner Zaku pilot, Bernie, but also had a relation with Christina, the pilot of one of the Federation's new Gundams. Well obviously I'm not going to spoil anything, but with this setup you can already tell this is going to be a touching story about the devastation and misfortune war inevitably brings about. What really makes the idea hit home is, again, the fact that we're watching it all from such a young, ordinary child's eyes. Reading about it probably doesn't make it sound all that impressive, but it's something you have to witness and experience for yourself to truly get the gist of.
Being from 1989, the art and animation quality might be a little below what your average modern viewing is, but I'll tell you for sure, it's topnotch stuff for its time. It really doesn't get better than this for the time frame we're looking at, as expected of a Gundam series, always a pioneer of quality in animation. The sound isn't such a strong point for the OVA, but it does the job.
War in the Pocket has a rather small cast, which actually worked out perfectly for the character department. Having too many characters and attempting to develop them all, or even worse not developing them at all, in just six episodes would've been a bad idea. Here we've got three central characters: Alfred, our 10 year old war enthusiast, Bernie, the Zeon amateur, and Christina, the Federation's new female pilot of their Gundam Alex. She doesn't receive much development, but she carries out her role just fine. Bernie doesn't receive as much development as Al either, but we witness a little change and growth in him as he becomes a stronger soldier with the help of his new friend. Al is the real masterpiece though. Just a 10 year old child, by the end he gains a whole new understanding and outlook on war and life, and just how fragile it is. He matures a great deal as his character develops, and that's what really assists the story in being so nicely handled.
Enjoyment on this one would depend on the person, depending on what you look for in a series, particular a series such as Gundam. If you're looking for the intensely epic giant robot battles, look elsewhere in the wide Gundam universe. This one's for the appreciation of the magnificently told story. Don't get me wrong, as in every Gundam title, you get some action. But that is far from the strong point, or focus really, in War in the Pocket. The story is vividly detailed with friendship, companionship, and unity, as well as tragedy, misfortune, and destruction, and that's where the enjoyment factor lies.
Watching every other Gundam installment isn't necessary for viewing Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket, but I'd suggest having some background in the franchise, and particularly the Universal Century. Overall, War in the Pocket, being a simple six episode OVA, proves that Gundam isn't all about powerhouse, futuristic mechanisms and laser beams, but also that it's about war and the, put in simplest terms, cruelty that comes along with it.
