Heartwarming tearjerker date movie ‘The Tunnel to Summer, The Exit of Goodbyes’

Wishes granted come with a price in the award-winning and highly-acclaimed YA romantic drama anime film “The Tunnel to Summer, The Exit of Goodbyes.”

The film’s main characters, Kaoru and Anzu, are voiced by Ouji Suzuka and Marie Iitoyo, respectively. Supporting characters are voiced by Tasuku Hatanaka as Shouhei Kaga, Arisa Komiya as Koharu Kawasaki, Haruka Terui as Mr. Hamamoto, Rikiya Koyama as Kaoru’s Father, and Seiran Kobayashi as Karen Touno.

This year’s recipient of the highly coveted Paul Grimault Prize at the Annecy International Animation Festival, the film is inspired by the award-winning novel of the same name by Mei Hachimoku and illustrated by Kukka. With CLAP in charge of the animation production, the movie is directed by Tomohisa Taguchi, with Tomomi Yabuki as the character designer and chief animation director.

“The Tunnel to Summer, The Exit of Goodbyes” is a reality-defying coming-of-age romantic drama that follows teenagers Kaoru and Anzu as they discover the rumored fantastical Urashima Tunnel. Rumor has it that laws of space and time mean nothing to the Urashima Tunnel, where wishes come true once you’ve walked through it. One night, after an argument with his father, Kaoru walks away and is fatefully led in front of a tunnel described in the rumors. Finally standing in front of the tunnel, he finds himself thinking of his sister Karen, whom he lost in an accident five years ago.

Yearning for his sister, Kaoru returns to the tunnel only to find out that he’s been followed by his classmate, Anzu. A newcomer in their school, Kaoru’s first awkward meeting with Anzu at the town’s train station blossoms into friendship as they try to discover the secrets that the time-twisting tunnel holds. As they continue to explore the tunnel and realize that time moves faster inside the tunnel, the two unconsciously develop a deeper bond while healing their pain from the past. With Kaoru wishing to undo the untimely death of his sister and Anzu seeking to escape the pain that’s plagued her growing up, together they must resolve whether their wishes are worth the cost of the sacrifice they have to make.

A stunning, beautiful story of one’s first love set against the backdrop of a fantastical tale, “The Tunnel to Summer, The Exit of Goodbyes” has received rave reviews and is currently rated 100 percent fresh at Rotten Tomatoes. Critics and audiences alike (from Japan and other international territories) are pleasantly surprised by its incredibly stylish visuals, voice acting and sound design, well-written story, and moving soundtrack.

Enter “The Tunnel of Summer, The Exit of Goodbyes” when it opens Nov. 1 – exclusive at SM Cinemas, from Encore Films, distributed by Warner Bros.

Check your favorite SM Cinemas for online ticket purchase.