▶ I have seen some Gundam titles before this one, but none of them is as special as this work. It is altogether different; I can compare it to a diamond among the titles the author has. I believe this is the final masterpiece of his works, and I do not believe someone will ever be able to create an anime like this. Definitely, I am not a professional critic, and I do not strive to “rate” it objectively from each aspect. My point is just to show which emotions it gave me and the influence it had on me. Obviously, it had one, as it is almost the only work I have ever rewatched. - First of all, the atmosphere. As every other work in the franchise, it is about war and its message of peace, but none of the previously watched works has given me any real effect. It seemed to be written by someone outside the reality of war, and even though I still liked them, they cannot compare to War in the Pocket. From the start to a certain point, everything is so colourful and bright; it wants to be regarded as an adventure story. Maybe some criticism can be written about unrealistic events; however, I think that is the point, and without it, it would have been just a plain work. We look at the world from the perspective of children, who should never have to see such things, such violence and disaster, but life is not kind, nor is it fair. I would say that is why their minds try to work in a special way: to make them unable to comprehend reality as it is. From the first moment, the title makes us see the world through the eyes of just an ordinary child (and yes, ordinary, though one may not agree :) ), who, like any other, likes all these things that are seen as adult or a bit unsafe and so, for them, is war. And brick by brick, war takes it all: the main character is no longer a child. - I want to write separately about the middle of the story. It is winter, and it could have been like any other one, but instead there are those who are crying, those who lost someone they loved, those who died. The thing you thought was just a side adventure tries to take everything from you, and that is when you start to understand: it is no longer a game, but just your life being destroyed. When you start to worry not about being unable to play computer games till midnight, but about the safety of your family, seeing at least once more your dad at the end of the day, just to be able to peacefully celebrate the most important (of course after a birthday) day for kids - Christmas Day. - Here I want to write about my emotions from the events of the anime; that is why I do not recommend opening spoilers before successfully completing the whole series.

Spoiler, click to view

There were 3 moments that absolutely destroyed me: first, when he was still playful, more serious about events but thought of himself as a hero, and then he saw destroyed houses, people standing nearby, someone crying and he did not really show any reaction, but it affected him. I would say it was the first brick the war put in him. The scene was so emotional even though we see it plainly and quietly. Awful to understand that all these things our children have to bear. The second was definitely when Al’s mind was pulled into reality, its terribleness, and when it gives him the happy news about his father, it just completely killed him, because in the moment when he gained everything he had ever dreamed of in peaceful times, it was going to be smashed by war. And, of course, when he cries at the end. I won’t write anything about it; it says way better than I can.