The anime series, Mobile Suit Gundam 0080 - A War in the Pocket, was the first Gundam OVA series. It was also the first time anyone other than creator Tomino Yoshiyuki was given a chance to direct a Gundam story. Released in 1989, it served 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 being penned by Tomino, 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 would continue in many following Gundam stories allowing more stories to be told about ordinary soldiers and people in these conflicts.

The character designer for this series was Haruhiko Mikimoto.