Released in 2022, ( Natsu e no Tonneru, Sayonara no Deguchi ) is a critically acclaimed anime film directed by Tomohisa Taguchi. Based on the light novel by Mei Hachimoku, this sci-fi romance explores the heavy costs of chasing the past through the lens of a mysterious urban legend. The Legend of the Urashima Tunnel
Kaoru enters the tunnel alone to save Anzu from losing her youth.
To enter the tunnel and bring Karen back. The twist: The tunnel doesn’t resurrect the dead; it allows you to replace the past. If Kaoru takes Karen, someone else—like Anzu—would vanish. natsu e no tunnel sayonara no deguchi full
: A melodic piece reflecting the visual themes of the story.
: Time inside the tunnel moves much slower than in the outside world. A few minutes spent inside can equate to several years passing externally. Released in 2022, ( Natsu e no Tonneru,
| Element | The Tunnel… | Your Name | Penguin Highway | |--------|--------------|-------------|-------------------| | Grief source | Sibling death | Romantic separation | Childhood wonder lost | | Fantasy mechanic | Time-debt tunnel | Body swapping | Penguins / reality holes | | Resolution | Stoic acceptance | Hopeful reunion | Bittersweet growth | | Target mood | Melancholic calm | Epic romance | Whimsical mystery |
However, Anzu Hanashiro, a headstrong transfer student, discovers him. Instead of exposing him, she finds herself intrigued by the tunnel's mysteries and becomes his partner in investigation. They agree to a "joint operation," setting up rules to explore the tunnel without losing their lives to its time-warping nature. To enter the tunnel and bring Karen back
At its core, The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes is not a whimsical adventure about a magical tunnel. It’s a melancholic, intimate character study wrapped in the gauze of summer nostalgia and soft sci-fi. Directed by Tomohisa Taguchi and produced by CLAP, the film takes a deceptively simple premise—a tunnel that grants wishes at the cost of time—and turns it into a poignant exploration of how we process loss and learn to live forward.
At the center of the story is the (a nod to the famous Japanese folk tale of Urashima Tarō ), a mysterious passage hidden in the hills of a quiet, rural Japanese town. According to urban legend, this tunnel can grant any single desire—but there is a terrifying catch: time moves much faster inside it. For every minute you spend within its depths, days, months, or even years can pass in the outside world.
フィナーレ。(Finale.) (Romanized) Lyrics - eill - Genius
The character designs are expressive, particularly Anzu, whose guarded expressions slowly melt away as she lets Kaoru in. The sound design is equally effective; the droning of cicadas acts as a metronome, counting down the seconds of the summer, reminding us that time is running out.