“The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes” is written and directed by Tomohisa Taguchi (Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, Akudama Drive) and stars Oji Suzuka and Marie Iitoyo as Kaoru Tono and Anzu Hanoshiro. The film centers around these two teens who develop a companionship all the while discovering the ins and outs of the mysterious Urashima Tunnel, where the laws of time and space are completely different from reality.

When the first hour or so of the past few years started, I would often scour Internet sources like Wikipedia, IMDb, YouTube, to get a sense of the films that are coming out later on in the year. Often times, most of the confirmed content would come from recognizable names or franchises, therefore a film like “The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes” was never on my radar. I never knew of the original source material, but I saw that the film had a few shows near me at select theaters, so I thought, “New anime… Never heard of it, what’s it about?” As soon as I saw the premise, I was sold. It sounded borderline existential from the description I read. Having seen the movie, I can tell you upfront that this is easily one of the best times I had at a cinema this year. The film is based on a light novel, which has since sparked a manga series. I am not sure how faithful this material is to its source, therefore I have nothing to compare it to. I am just a third party observer who just wanted to see a good movie. I got a great movie.

My favorite thing about “The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes” is everything involving the introduction and buildup of the tunnel itself. Some of my favorite films of the past decade like “Arrival” works really well because of how perfectly it sets up its out of the ordinary environment. “The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes” works to a similar capacity. When it comes to some of the more visual aspects of the story, it allowed for some immersive scenes. When we see the two leads come together, it allows for one of the most inviting and intriguing moments of exploration I can remember seeing in a film. It also helps that the tunnel itself is a cool concept on its own. The fact that staying in there for long periods of time can quickly take you through many years of your own life? That is a killer idea.

But of course, it also helps that the events of the real world are just as exciting and riveting. When we get a sense of Kaoru’s background, there is some family drama we get to explore that helps not only establish the character, but get me to root for him. I also love the background we learn about Anzu, specifically how it ties back to her grandfather. It sort of reminded me of a relationship we saw in one of my favorite films from the past year, “The Fabelmans,” specifically between the titular family and Uncle Boris. While not exactly the same in principle, both relationships tend to stem off the backbone that a character became committed to the arts and their family eventually ended up casting them out to a degree. In this film, it is revealed that Anzu’s grandfather is a rather unsuccessful, but apparently passionate, manga artist. Anzu wants to follow in his footsteps, much to the backlash to her parents. This becomes a bit of a driving force for the character and it is one that I appreciate as someone who is a bit of an artist himself. Ever since I was young I always wanted to work in media or film. Right now I call myself incredibly lucky to be able to do that, and continue to talk about my passion for the industry on this blog. This film makes me appreciate the support I have from my parents for allowing me to set myself into an industry that I admire. I am, and always have been, an artist, and I think if you are either an aspiring, somewhat accomplished, or heavily experienced artist, you will relate to the character of Anzu. She manages to both love what she does but also pack in some hints of imposter syndrome. I share my written work here on a regular basis, but I will not deny that there are times where I have done reviews or other forms of art where I feel like I could have done better or maybe I am not confident in the material or my ability to complete it. I nevertheless push through because I want to see the journey of my progress reach the end, but it goes to show how relatable the character is.

If I have any real gripes with the film, there would be very few. If I had to be real, I would say that the film does feel tonally inconsistent at times. At one moment it is kind of cutesy, at another it is somewhat adventurous, and at another it is a serious drama. Sure, these kind of make for a neat package once the bow is tied, but I will not deny that the movie almost, and I put emphasis on the word almost, misses an identity because of it. Other than that, some of the supporting characters are a tad over the top, which does not really help considering how comparably down to earth much of the movie plays out in its execution, especially with its two leads. And yes, that is a weird thing to say when much of the plot revolves around a mysterious tunnel, but the way that pans out, given the circumstances, feels somewhat grounded when everything unfolds. If anything, this film creates a successful fine line between adventure and gloom, but it does not change how there are moments of the narrative that feel less in line with others.

Sticking with the idea of adventure and gloom, the film perfectly represents that in its visual style. I was not expecting it from the poster I saw prior to entering the cinema, but it nevertheless struck me with a sense of awe I am not accustomed to experiencing. At times the film is fun, at others I am riveted with the drama on screen. The color palette often times looks bleak and depressing, but it does not mean the movie fails to occasionally spark joy. But everything inside the tunnel not only looks otherworldly, but much more wonderous than everything in the real world. The movie does a good job at differentiating the vibes between the characters’ reality and the magic of the tunnel. There are plenty of bright and vivid moments, but the ones that give a greater soap opera feel in the film tend to stand out.

As for other positives, the music in the film is quite good. Everything from start to finish in the narrative had my attention. The movie for the most part is well-paced. The animation is sparkly and pristine. The voice acting is great. And if you must know I did watch the Japanese edition. This film reminded me a lot of flicks like “Arrival” or “Inception” where we have this unique concept to explore and the process of doing so is ever so exciting. I went into this movie curious, and I left the movie hooked by everything in it. I do not regret seeing this film during its short run.

In the end, “The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes” is the third anime film I have seen in 2023, and of the three, it is the weakest. That said, it is also one of the better films of the year. When I first put the film amongst my rankings so far this year, this actually ended up in my top 10, at least for now. But I put it there for a reason, because it engaged me the entire time. Not once was I tired, uninterested, bored, or agonized by any of it. Sure, it has its flaws, but even when I think about them, they feel totally minor. They almost don’t even exist to a degree. The positives in this film not only stand out, they sparkle like gold. The main characters are both compelling and have phenomenal chemistry. Said chemistry is highlighted by their two talented voice actors. The concept of the film is fantastic. Both on paper and in execution. The tunnel itself is brilliantly designed, nicely colored, and easy on the eyes. Despite some minor tonal inconsistency, this film blends drama and adventure beautifully. I highly recommend you check this out at some point. I am not sure how long this rating is going to stick as I do want to watch it again in the near future and am very curious as to how a second viewing would go, but as for my first viewing, I am going to give “The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes,” an 8/10.

“The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes” is currently playing in select theaters. The film is also available to buy on VOD.

Thanks for reading this review! If you enjoyed this review, why not check out my other ones? I mentioned this is the third anime title I reviewed in 2023. If you want to know the other two, check out my reviews for “Suzume” and “The First Slam Dunk.” My next review is going to be for the brand new MCU installment, “The Marvels!” Also coming soon, I will have my thoughts on “Wish” and “Next Goal Wins.” Speaking of anime, this review is a ways out, but I just got my ticket for Hayao Miyazaki’s latest film, “The Boy and the Heron.” If I play my cards right, that review should be up sometime next month. If you want to see this and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes?” What did you think about it? Or, do you have a favorite anime you have seen this year? I’ll also accept television. Tell me about it! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!