Why are anime characters usually drawn without lips?


I have noticed that most anime characters are drawn without lips. Is there a
specific reason for doing this?

![](https://i.stack.imgur.com/nh790.png)
![](https://i.stack.imgur.com/jfpt0.jpg)
![](https://i.stack.imgur.com/fxrSe.jpg)
![](https://i.stack.imgur.com/lj5Pk.jpg)




The reason seems to be more historical and technological than some kind of art
or costumes. **Realistic lips are hard to draw**. The lips has certain
singularities that prevent creatives from trying to imitate them. In cases
where they need a close up (focus on) the lips, the quality/relistic could be
increased (this depends greatly on the production) but in most of case whereas
there is another more important elements in the scene, some realistic details
are just dropped.

Of course, some technology could allow producers to pimp up all realistic
features (lips included) so they picture more realistic lips.

In a single line, the answers is: if they are not pictured, is because it
results a pain to produce them; if they are pictured is because all other
details are also realistic, why not lips.




The reason seems to be more historical and technological than some kind of art
or costumes. **Realistic lips are hard to draw**. The lips has certain
singularities that prevent creatives from trying to imitate them. In cases
where they need a close up (focus on) the lips, the quality/relistic could be
increased (this depends greatly on the production) but in most of case whereas
there is another more important elements in the scene, some realistic details
are just dropped.

Of course, some technology could allow producers to pimp up all realistic
features (lips included) so they picture more realistic lips.

In a single line, the answers is: if they are not pictured, is because it
results a pain to produce them; if they are pictured is because all other
details are also realistic, why not lips.

