The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbye

Alternate Titles

夏へのトンネル、さよならの出口
Natsu e no Tunnel, Sayonara no Deguchi

Synopsis

The Urashima Tunnel - if you enter it, you can get anything you want. But it comes at a price… Tono Kaoru is a high school boy with an elusive personality who is traumatized by an incident from his past. Anzu Hanashiro is a high school girl who struggles with the difference between the idealized image she holds of herself and the one behind her strong-willed attitude. The two form a partnership to investigate the mysterious tunnel and attain what they desire. But what will be left of them when they are through?

Background

The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbye started as a light novel series written by Mei Hachimoku and illustrated by Kukka that began being published by Shogakukan under its Gagaga Bunko imprint in July 2019. Only one volume has been released to date. The series is licensed for English release in North America by Seven Seas Entertainment, who published its sole volume in May 2022. Though Mei’s debut work, the series won the Gagaga Award and Judges’ Special Award at the 13th Shogakukan Light Novel Awards.

A manga adaptation titled The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes: Ultramarine and illustrated by Koudon began serialization in Shogakukan’s Monthly Sunday Gene-X seinen manga magazine in July 2020. Four collected tankobon volumes have been published as of December 2021. Seven Seas Entertainment have also licensed the manga for English release in North America and will begin publishing it in July 2022.

A feature-length theatrical anime was announced in December 2021. It is being produced by CLAP and features Tomohisa Taguchi, who is directing and writing the screenplay and storyboard. Other staff members include Tomomi Yabuki as character designer and chief animation director, Michio Hasegawa, Seiji Tachikawa, Tomomi Yabuki, and Yasuhisa Kato as animation directors, and Harumi Fuuki as music composer. Singer-songwriter eill will perform the movie’s theme song and insert song. The anime will be released theatrically in Japan on Sep. 9, 2022.

Characters

Tono Kaoru (Voiced by: Oji Suzuka)
Tono is a second-year high school student living in a rural town together with his father. He is troubled due to an incident that happened during his childhood. In an unexpected turn of events, he learns of the existence of the Urashima Tunnel, which is said to grant wishes.

Anzu Hanashiro (Voiced by: Marie Iitoyo)
Anzu is a transfer student from Tokyo. She has both beauty and brains. On her first day at her new school, she becomes an outsider in class, but an incident leads her and Kaoru to team up in search of the Urashima Tunnel.

• Movie Site (Japanese)
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• Original Creator: Mei Hachimoku
• Original Character Design: Kukka
• Director/Screenplay/Storyboard: Tomohisa Taguchi
• Character Design/Chief Animation Director: Tomomi Yabuki
• Animation Director: Michio Hasegawa, Seiji Tachikawa, Tomomi Yabuki, Yasuhisa Kato
• Unit Director: Kanji Miyake, Tomohisa Taguchi
• Art Director: Yuuki Hatakeyama (Kusanagi)
• Art Board: Daiki Kuribayashi (Kusanagi)
• Art Setting: Eiko Tsunado (Kusanagi)
• Background Art: Kusanagi
• Setting Production: Shingou Nishikawa
• Color Design: Saori Goda
• Prop Design: Kazumi Inadome
• CG: Chiptune
• Director of Photography: Kou Hoshina
• Editing: Akinori Mishima
• Sound Director: Satoki Iida
• Sound Production Manager: Kana Uzawa
• Sound Production: Studio Mausu
• Music: Harumi Fuuki
• Production: Akinosuke Kanazawa, Keijiro Taguchi, Makiko Mameda
• Production Producer: Ryoichiro Matsuo
• Animation Production: CLAP
• Distributor: Pony Canyon