Ask John: Why Are Anime Breasts Often Missing Nipples?

Question:
In many ecchi anime, bare breasts are shown, but are anatomically incorrect. Often, the nipples aren’t drawn. How can guys watch these ecchi and still be turned on? Do they not mind?

Answer:
Lapses in my own memory may be to blame, but I can’t think of any specifically ecchi anime that have anatomically incorrect exposed breasts. Shows like He Is My Master don’t contain any graphic nudity. And ecchi shows like Aika, Mahoromatic, Girls Bravo, and UFO Princess Valkyrie do have bare breasts complete with nipples.

In my experience the anime that most often depict perfectly smooth female breasts are transforming magical girl series. These shows avoid illustrating graphic nudity because they don’t want to seem vulgar in the eyes of their young female viewers, but at the same time do want to appeal to select male viewers.

After all, the point of fan service is not sexual arousal. Fan service is merely a little gift or “service” for viewers, which does not necessarily have to be nudity. Shows like Girls Bravo and He Is My Master are obviously “fan service” shows because they depict nudity and cute girls in French maid outfits. But shows like Zipang and Stratos 4 may also be called fan service shows for mecha fans because these shows include scenes of intricately detailed, realistic military vehicles intended to please mecha and military fans. Viewers seeking sexual arousal can watch straightforward adults-only erotic anime. Fan service is only intended to be a playful tease, which may explain why nude breasts without nipples might appear in some ecchi anime shows.