Film Review: The Tunnel to Summer, The Exit of Goodbyes

By J.D.

In a town in the middle of nowhere Japan, there’s a rumor about a tunnel. If you pass through the torii at the end of it, your wishes will be granted but you will lose 100 years. Does this tunnel exist? If so, is your wish worth losing 100 years and everything you already have?

Based on a 2019 light novel of the same name by Mei Hachimoku, The Tunnel to Summer, The Exit of Goodbyes is a film from animation studio CLAP and director Tomohisa Taguchi. Coincidentally, Taguchi also directed Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning which I also reviewed for A-to-J HERE. This film was released in Japan last year before Digimon but is only just making its debut in the United States this November courtesy of Sentai Filmworks.

Our main characters are Kaoru Tono and Anzu Hanashiro, two high schoolers both with desperate wishes and more issues than Spider-Man. Kaoru blames himself for the death of his younger sister Karen which led to his parents’ divorce and his father’s alcoholism and abuse. His wish is to bring back his sister back. One day, he meets Anzu at the train station and lends her his umbrella. The next day, he learns that she’s a new transfer student and after suffering a beating from his drunken father he stumbles upon the fabled Urshima Tunnel, named after the Japanese legend of Urashima Tarō. Anzu’s wishes are more closely guarded but when Kaoru decides to revisit the tunnel, Anzu follows him. So begins their joint operation to get their wishes granted.

HIDIVE / IFC Films

HIDIVE / IFC Films

In many ways, I think you may be able to imagine just about every plot development this movie has to offer and your predictions are probably not that far off. But where I think this movie truly excels is its emotionality. Both Kaoru and Anzu feel like real people simultaneous stuck on what has happened in the past and what could happen to them in the future as the present drifts by them. Their relationship grows as the two of them investigate the exact mechanics of the tunnel. In the short time these two are together, you see a relationship that lasts a lifetime start to form. 

This is supported by the excellent voice work which is amazing since Kaoru seems to be the first voice acting role for Ōji Suzuka and Marie Iitoyo had only a handful of voice roles before Anzu. Both of them are able to convey the awkwardness and emotionality of teenagers who are very closed off at the beginning and slowly open up as they bond over the course of their joint operation. Voice work from the supporting characters is good as well but together these two carry the majority of the film.

Another area where this movie excels is its art and animation. The characters and backgrounds are all gorgeous and when we see inside the tunnel, it is made to be this otherworldly place with this alien red glow. Despite all that, it still manages to fit in with our characters as they walk this watery road. I also don’t think I’ve seen better looking fireworks ever in animation. 

HIDIVE / IFC Films

HIDIVE / IFC Films

In conclusion, I don’t think I can recommend The Tunnel to Summer, The Exit of Goodbyes enough. It stands as one of the best anime movies of the year full of emotion and beautiful artwork. If you have the chance to see it, I cannot recommend it highly enough.

The Tunnel to Summer, The Exit of Goodbyes will be coming to US theaters on November 3, 2023 from HIDIVE and IFC Films. Trailers to both the subbed and dubbed version, as well as a link to more information on the theatrical release, can be found below.

For More Information:
https://www.tunneltosummer.com/

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Rating: A

+ Hits all its emotional beats.
+ Excellent art and animation.

- Predictable plot advancements.

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