HIDIVE and IFC Films has officially announced the U.S. theatrical release for The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes anime film, starting November 3, 2023. The film will screen in numerous theaters in the United States and will be presented in both Japanese with English subtitles and English dub, depending on date and theater location.
Both companies also revealed it will be hosting a special movie panel featuring the stars of the English dub during New York Comic Con 2023, alongside the earlier announced world English dub premiere. The premiere and panel will take place on October 12, 2023 at 7:30 PM EST in Room 405 of the Javits Center.
Tickets for The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes will be available for purchase starting October 10, 2023 at tunneltosummer.com, which also provides a complete list of theater locations (subject to change). Tickets will also be available via participating theater box offices as well.
The anime film recently took top honors in the feature film category at the 2023 Annecy International Animation Festival in France, where it was awarded the coveted Paul Grimault Award. It first premiered in Japanese theaters on September 9, 2022.
Tomohisa Taguchi (Akudama Drive and Bleach Thousand-Year Blood War Arc director) directed and wrote the film, with Tomomi Yabuki (Pompo: The Cinephile co-sub character designer) as character designer and chief animation director. CLAP is in charge of the animation production.
Other production staff members include:
- • Unit director: Kanji Miyake (Pompo: The Cinéphile assistant director)
- • Color designer: Saori Gouda (Princess Connect! Re:Dive Season 2)
- • Art director: Yuuki Hatakeyama (Summer Time Render co-art director)
- • Art director: Daiki Kuribayashi (Toilet-bound Hanako-kun)
- • Compositing director: Kou Hoshina (Pompo the Cinephile co-photography director)
- • Music composer: Harumi Fuuki (The Deer King)
- • Animation director: Seiji Tachikawa (Idolish Seven Third Beat!)
- • Animation director: Tomomi Yabuki (“Mado wo Akete” music video)
- • Animation director: Michio Hasegawa (Shadows House)
- • Animation director: Yasuhisa Katou (Pompo the Cinephile)
Meanwhile, the film’s voice cast includes Ouji Suzuka as Kaoru Tono, Marie Iitoyo as Anzu Hanashiro, 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.
The original light novel is written by Mei Hachimoku with illustrations from Kukka. It is published by Shogakukan under the Gagaga Bunko label and was awarded the Gagaga Award and the Special Judges Award during the 13th Shogakukan Light Novel Awards. The novel has also received a 2020 manga adaptation titled The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes: Ultramarine by Koudon.
HIDIVE describes the synopsis of The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes as:
Kaoru Tono heard a rumor: The laws of space and time mean nothing to the Urashima Tunnel. If you find it, walk through and you’ll find your heart’s desire on the other side…in exchange for years of your own life. One night, Kaoru just so happens to find himself standing in front of a tunnel that looks suspiciously like the one the rumor describes. He finds himself thinking of Karen, the sister he lost in an accident five years ago. To Kaoru’s surprise, he’s been followed by the new transfer student Anzu Hanashiro, who promises to help him experiment with the mysterious tunnel — but what does she want from Kaoru in exchange? And what will he have left to give, after the tunnel’s done with him?
Source: press release
