Natsu e no Tunnel, Sayonara no Deguchi
Summary: Kaoru Touno's family is falling apart. After the death of a sibling and his parents' divorce, he no longer feels any peace at home. Following a heated confrontation with his father, Kaoru runs out of his house and finds himself before a mysterious tunnel, which pulls him in. Bewildered by what he sees inside, he rushes to the exit, picking up a bird that looks identical to his deceased pet on his way out.
Upon emerging outside, Kaoru realizes that, despite him spending just a few minutes inside the tunnel, an entire week has passed. The bizarre experience leads him to remember the rumors of "Urashima Tunnel"—a passage that grants wishes in exchange for one's lifespan. Given the resurrection of his pet bird, Kaoru cannot help but wonder if another visit can help fix his messed up life.
However, when he returns to the entrance of the mysterious tunnel, Kaoru realizes that he has been followed by Anzu Hanashiro, a new transfer student in his class. She also knows about the rumors and asks him to help her with an experiment—it turns out that she, too, has a wish that only the tunnel can grant.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Description
Kaoru Touno's family is falling apart. After the death of a sibling and his parents' divorce, he no longer feels any peace at home. Following a heated confrontation with his father, Kaoru runs out of his house and finds himself before a mysterious tunnel, which pulls him in. Bewildered by what he sees inside, he rushes to the exit, picking up a bird that looks identical to his deceased pet on his way out.
Upon emerging outside, Kaoru realizes that, despite him spending just a few minutes inside the tunnel, an entire week has passed. The bizarre experience leads him to remember the rumors of "Urashima Tunnel"—a passage that grants wishes in exchange for one's lifespan. Given the resurrection of his pet bird, Kaoru cannot help but wonder if another visit can help fix his messed up life.
However, when he returns to the entrance of the mysterious tunnel, Kaoru realizes that he has been followed by Anzu Hanashiro, a new transfer student in his class. She also knows about the rumors and asks him to help her with an experiment—it turns out that she, too, has a wish that only the tunnel can grant.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
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Natsu e no Tunnel, Sayonara no Deguchi Review
Natsu e no Tunnel, Sayonara no Deguchi — Kaoru Touno's family is falling apart. This overview is intentionally spoiler-free and focuses on tone and intent rather than plot specifics.
Thematically, It sits firmly within Drama, Mystery, Romance, Supernatural conventions as a Movie work and has garnered attention (MAL score: 7.96). This work explores character dynamics, tonal shifts, and the interplay between narrative ambition and execution. The story's pacing and tonal choices are crafted to complement the central ideas, often emphasizing atmosphere and emotional truth over explicit exposition. The show's ability to evoke a consistent mood — whether melancholic, exuberant, or contemplative — is a recurring strength, and the scenes are constructed so viewers can infer stakes without needing explicit spoilers.
Characterization is a core pillar here. Protagonists and supporting figures are written with distinct motivations and narrative roles; even when archetypal, the series invests in small behavioral details that make choices feel earned. Character arcs are handled with an eye for gradualism: development often arrives through incremental beats rather than abrupt, expository shifts. The interactions between characters create texture, and relationships are used to illuminate both personal flaws and larger thematic concerns.
On the visual front, production values play a significant role. The animation quality varies by sequence but frequently showcases thoughtful direction and composition. Background art, framing, and color palettes are used deliberately to support tone — quieter scenes favor muted palettes while action or heightened emotional beats employ brighter, more kinetic visuals. Direction choices, such as camera movement and shot selection, often elevate scenes beyond their raw script, creating moments that linger in the viewer's mind.
The soundscape — score, incidental music, and sound design — complements the visual language. Music cues are placed to maximize emotional resonance without manipulating the audience with melodrama; this restraint often leads to more authentic emotional payoff. Sound design punctuates key moments, and when the series leans on silence, those quieter moments are given weight by measured audio choices.
Pacing and structure are handled with craft. Episodes are arranged to build tension and release methodically, and the narrative rarely rushes through important emotional beats. That said, the deliberate pacing may feel slow to viewers who prefer faster plot turnover; the reward is greater nuance and an accumulation of meaning across the series. Accessibility is generally good — one can appreciate surface-level pleasures, while repeat or attentive viewing reveals additional layers.
No title is without flaws. Occasional unevenness in subplots or variable animation across episodes can be distracting. Some tonal shifts might feel abrupt if you expect uniformity; others will argue that those shifts are purposeful. These are worth noting, but they seldom undercut the larger achievements of the work.
In sum, Natsu e no Tunnel, Sayonara no Deguchi offers a rich experience for viewers who value character-driven storytelling, considered visual design, and a soundtrack that supports rather than overwhelms. For fans of Drama, Mystery, Romance, Supernatural, this is an especially rewarding watch. It's recommended for those who appreciate layered narratives and artistry in animation, and best approached with patience and attention to nuance.
Characters & Voice Actors
Hanashiro, Anzu
Main
Iitoyo, Marie
Japanese
Hanashiro, Anzu
Main
Duran, Patricia
English
Hanashiro, Anzu
Main
Orsat, Alice
French
Hanashiro, Anzu
Main
Venditti, Alice
Italian
Touno, Kaoru
Main
Suzuka, Ouji
Japanese
Touno, Kaoru
Main
Regojo, Gabriel
English
Touno, Kaoru
Main
Moore, Chaney
English
Touno, Kaoru
Main
Lugni, Leonardo
Italian
Touno, Kaoru
Main
Dubois, Arthur
French
Touno, Kaoru
Main
Lemaire, Marius
French
Touno, Kaoru
Main
Beltrán, Pau
Spanish
Touno, Kaoru
Main
Kazius, Migca
Spanish
Kaga, Shouhei
Supporting
Hatanaka, Tasuku
Japanese
Kaga, Shouhei
Supporting
Gibbs, Scott
English
Kaga, Shouhei
Supporting
Garofalo, Matteo
Italian
Kaga, Shouhei
Supporting
Da Silva, Sullivan
French
Kaga, Shouhei
Supporting
Suñén, Eric
Spanish
Kaoru's Father
Supporting
Koyama, Rikiya
Japanese
Kaoru's Father
Supporting
Gremillion, John
English
Kaoru's Father
Supporting
Russotto, Fabrizio
Italian
Staff
Kudou, Masayo
Producer
Matsuo, Ryouichirou
Producer
Sasaki, Reiko
Producer
Shikama, Taisuke
Producer
Taguchi, Tomohisa
Director, Episode Director, Script, Storyboard, Screenplay
Iida, Satoki
Sound Director
Miyake, Kanji
Episode Director
Miyata, Ryo "Lefty"
Theme Song Composition, Theme Song Arrangement
eill
Theme Song Performance, Inserted Song Performance
Aizawa, Kana
2nd Key Animation
Fuuki, Harumi
Music
Gibert, Alexandre
ADR Director
Gotou, Ryouta
Background Art
Gouda, Saori
Color Design
Hachimoku, Mei
Original Creator
Hasegawa, Yukio
Animation Director
Hatakeyama, Yuuki
Art Director
Inadome, Kazumi
Assistant Animation Director
Ishibashi, Toshinobu
In-Between Animation
Izumi, Akihiro
Key Animation