| Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket | |
Cover of the first DVD volume |
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| 機動戦士ガンダム0080 ポケットの中の戦争 (Kidō Senshi Gandamu 0080 Poketto no Naka no Sensō) |
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|---|---|
| Genre | Military science fiction |
| Original video animation | |
| Directed by | Fumihiko Takayama |
| Studio | Sunrise |
| Released | March 25, 1989 – August 25, 1989 |
| Episodes | 6 |
Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket (機動戦士ガンダム0080 ポケットの中の戦争 Kidō Senshi Gandamu 0080 Poketto no Naka no Sensō) is a 1989 Japanese science fiction original video animation series, the first such series in the Gundam franchise. Directed by Fumihiko Takayama, it was also the first time anyone other than creator Yoshiyuki Tomino was given a chance to direct a Gundam story. Released in 1989, it serves to commemorate Gundam's ten-year anniversary. As suggested by its subtitle, "War in the Pocket," it is a small, personal story; a side story focusing on the experiences of a ten-year-old boy during the One Year War.
Gundam 0080 also began an enduring tradition of retroactive redesigns. Yutaka Izubuchi updated the original Mobile Suit Gundam's dated mechanical designs and costumes, and since then every new creative team has offered its own take on the classic Gundam props.
Not penned by Tomino, but by Hiroyuki Yamaga, Gundam 0080 also marked a significant departure from the constant background theme of Newtypes featured in the Universal Century Gundam universe, since the original Mobile Suit Gundam up until Char's Counterattack. The absence of this theme raised the series' appeal towards audiences without special liking of Gundam and Tomino's work[1] and would continue in many following Gundam stories narrating about ordinary soldiers and people in these conflicts.
The character designer for this series was Haruhiko Mikimoto (Macross franchise, Megazone 23, Gunbuster).
In the United States it aired on Cartoon Network's Toonami block and briefly on Adult Swim.
Contents |
December, Universal Century 0079. Zeon intelligence has identified a prototype Federation Gundam under development in a Federation base in the Arctic. Elite Zeon MS commandos, one of whom is young rookie Bernard Wiseman, are dispatched to destroy the prototype, but before they can accomplish their mission the Gundam is launched into space. When the Gundam turns up in a Federation R&D base inside the neutral space colony Side 6, the Principality launches a covert operation to destroy the Gundam. However, the raid fails and the entire team is killed except for Bernard. After crashing his mobile suit, Bernard manages to befriend Alfred Izuhura and Christina Mackenzie, the Gundam test pilot. As Bernard tries to repair his damaged mobile suit, Bernard slowly becomes infatuated with Christina, with both pilots remaining unaware of each others' true natures. However, Bernard discovers that Zeon will destroy Side 6 with a nuclear weapon if he cannot destroy the prototype Gundam. Feeling that he has no choice, Bernard takes his mobile suit and goes to engage the Gundam. Alfred then discovers that the Zeon ship carrying the nuclear weapons was captured, meaning Bernard has no more reason to fight. He goes to try and stop Bernard, only to see Bernard's mobile suit destroyed and an injured Christina pulled from the heavily damaged Gundam. Afterwards, Christina tells Alfred that she will be leaving Side 6, and asks Alfred to say goodbye to Bernard for her, still unaware that she had actually killed him. Alfred does not have the heart to tell her the truth and agrees to her request.
Two pieces of music by Megumi Shiina are used for the opening and closing themes. The opening theme is "Reach Out to the Sky Someday" (Itsuka Sora ni Todoite) and the closing theme is "Distant Memory" (Tooi Kioku).
Yoshiyuki Tomino, who was not involved in the show's production, was interviewed for the Newtype magazine April 1989 issue, after the release of the first episode. He praised the director's effort to make the show realistic and focused on things other than Mobile Suit battles. He also commented on two glitches, one being the portrayal of a blue sky in the colony rather than the other side of the cylinder, which is only about 6.4 km away; and the children being out during a wartime alert. Tomino thought that school resuming with combat in such close proximity was unrealistic, when a more sensible response should have been to close the school immediately and guide the children to shelters.
| # | Title | Release Date | English Airdate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "How Many Miles to the Battlefield?" "Senjô Made wa Nan Mairu?" (戦場までは何マイル?) |
March 25, 1989 | November 5, 2001 |
| The elite Zeon Cyclops Team is sent to the Arctic to stop a new Gundam prototype from being launched into space, but their mission ends in failure. On the Libot colony of Side 6, 11-year-old Alfred Izuruha meets up with Christina MacKenzie, who used to babysit him when he was younger. Little does he know that she is now a Federation pilot. Meanwhile, Cyclops Team sneaks into Side 6 while Zeon forces invade the colony. During the attack, Al runs into the forest to chase a downed Zaku and encounters rookie pilot Bernie Wiseman.[5] | |||
| 2 | "Reflections in a Brown Eye" "Chairo no Hitomi ni Utsuru Mono" (茶色の瞳に映るもの) |
April 25, 1989 | November 6, 2001 |
| Bernie gives Al his badge in exchange for the video disc of his camera. Back at their secret hideout, Cyclops Team discovers that the disc contains footage of the warehouse containing the Gundam inside the Federation base. | |||
| 3 | "And at the End of the Rainbow?" "Niji no Hate ni wa?" (虹の果てには?) |
May 25, 1989 | November 7, 2001 |
| Cyclops Team smuggles parts of the mobile suit Kämpfer into the colony for their mission, with some help from Alfred. | |||
| 4 | "Over the River and Through the Woods" "Kawa wo Watatte Kodachi wo Nukete" (河を渡って木立を抜けて) |
June 25, 1989 | November 9, 2001 |
| Cyclops Team sneaks into the Federation base to destroy the Gundam, but the mission is a failure when their cover is blown and all but Bernie are killed in the ensuing gunfight. Meanwhile, Christina pilots the Gundam to fend off against the Kämpfer mobile suit sent to eliminate it. | |||
| 5 | "Say it Ain't So, Bernie!" "Uso Dato Itte yo, Bānī" (嘘だと言ってよ、バーニィ) |
July 25, 1989 | November 12, 2001 |
| Following the failure of his team's mission and the deaths of his comrades, Bernie goes in hiding and is told by his informant that Commander Killing has ordered a nuclear attack on the colony on Christmas day. | |||
| 6 | "War in the Pocket" "Poketto no Naka no Sensō" (ポケットの中の戦争) |
August 25, 1989 | November 13, 2001 |
| In one last attempt to destroy the Gundam and prevent the nuclear attack on the colony, Bernie repairs his Zaku with Al's help and sets traps within the forest, using the armament left over by Cyclops Team. He then sets off to lure the Gundam into his trap, but Al receives word that the Zeon fleet sent to destroy the colony was intercepted and destroyed. Al rushes to the scene in an attempt to stop Bernie from continuing his mission, but Bernie is killed while the Gundam is severely damaged. Al goes into shock upon discovering that Christina was piloting the Gundam. | |||
| Preceded by Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack |
Gundam metaseries (production order) 1989 |
Succeeded by Mobile Suit Gundam F91 |
| Preceded by Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team |
Gundam Universal Century timeline U.C. 0079-80 |
Succeeded by Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory |