Tunnel to Summer, Exit of Goodbyes: sweet anime romance with a problem

Generation after generation, it’s been proven that audiences tend to connect with stories about teenagers bonding over a fantastical experience while dealing with the drama of school and their own lives, whether in a nostalgic Netflix show like Stranger Things Or a moving anime film like You Name. Juxtaposing big fantasy stakes with the more relatable stakes of teenage problems adds interesting flavor to familiar stories, and emphasizes how these adolescent problems feel super huge when you’re young.

Tunnel to Summer: The Exit of GoodbyesThe anime film. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood-War director Tomohisa Taguchi, Closer to You Name’s end of the spectrum. In this case, the supernatural aspect is more vague than an actual monster to be slain. The manga version of the light novel is based on this. Tunnel to Summer – The Exit of GoodbyesThis is a beautiful, sweet romance about coming of age with a touch of science fiction. But it only scratches the surface as to where the story can go.

[Ed. note: This review contains setup spoilers for The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes.]

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Tunnel to Summer: The Exit of GoodbyesThe story follows Kaoru, a student at a local high school who finds out that an urban myth in his hometown is true. There’s a secret tunnel capable of granting wishes — but at a great cost. Kaoru and the aloof Anzu set out to discover the secret of the tunnel. Anzu and Kaoru learn that each three-second interval in the tunnel is equivalent to two hours of time outside. This is why the legend says that one wish would cost a century. The two teenagers each have different reasons why they want their wishes to come true, but neither is forthcoming with their motives. They form a bond as they explore the time-warping tunnel.

Their connection drives most of the plot, as they eventually tell each other why they seek out the tunnel’s magic. Anzu and Kaoru both keep their secrets close to their chests, so when they do eventually confide in each other, it’s a blossoming start to what could become a transcendent friendship. Their connection, while sweet, feels like it’s stuck in the beginning and doesn’t quite develop into something more. Even in the movie’s third act, their connection has only just started to hint at something deeper, so when the plot takes a turn, their relationship arc feels unfinished.

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The movie’s big bittersweet twist doesn’t have as much impact as it ought to, because up until that point, Anzu and Kaoru only really connect through a tunnel-investigating montage and a handful of prickly conversations. The emotions Taguchi tries to convey in the movie’s last act don’t quite gel, because Anzu and Kaoru’s relationship never gets to a point deep enough to justify that impact.

The tunnel is itself a plot device that’s fascinating. Its best contribution to the movie, however, is that it provides the backdrop for some of the most spectacular scenes. It is an underground river, lined with glowing maples in golden orange and purple with holographic gems. The characters are cast in vibrant colors by the light that seems to be emitted from everything within. The characters start to experience a distorted reality in the tunnel as they begin to perceive what they want and the time begins slowing down. This animation has a beautiful style, particularly in depicting atmospheric elements like rainy weather or the aquarium Anzu & Kaoru visited on their free day to investigate the tunnel. It’s the tunnel that really makes the video stand out.

Image: CLAP/Hidive

The collection of working items in Tunnel to Summer, They all almost work together. The frustration is largely a result of how Taguchi utilizes the tunnel. It’s a gorgeous, compelling plot device, but the reveal of the central duo’s motives for using it comes too little, too late. And the scenes where they run tests, with one person going inside while the other spends hours waiting for them, doesn’t lend itself to really fleshing out a relationship. Taguchi overindulges in the moments that take place inside tunnels instead of reserving them for impact.

Summer TunnelThe story, on the surface is captivating and bittersweet, but not so much that it is evocative. But if you ponder a little more, peel away the layers of this story, it will be evocative. Tunnel to Summer: The Exit of Goodbyes It is frustrating because there could be more.

Tunnel to Summer: The Exit of GoodbyesReleased in theatres Nov. 3, See the movie’s websiteFor participating theatres.