Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide an image processing apparatus and image processing method capable of reducing a load for drawing, diversifying image representation and smoothing character motion. An image processing means (2) synthesizes background image data (3d) composed of movie image with character data (4d) composed of solid image of polygon data and supplies to a display (6). An image (60) produced by synthesizing the background image (3) with the character (4) is displayed on the display (6). A simple model (5d) composed of three dimensional data for determining the precedence in erasing a negative face between the background image data (3d) and character data (4d) is set in part of the background image data. The image processing means (2) determines a portion in which the character (4) is hidden by the background (3) based on the simple model and erase a corresponding portion. This erase processing enables a screen to be represented three-dimensionally.