The invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method. The image processing apparatus includes: an image input section through which a two-dimensional image signal is input; an image converting section which receives the image signal output from the image input section and generates and outputs a left eye image and a right eye image for realizing stereopsis; and an image output section which outputs the left eye image and the right eye image output from the image converting section. The image converting section extracts a spatial characteristic amount of the input image signal, generates at least one of the left eye image and the right eye image through an image conversion process in which the characteristic amount is applied, and performs the image conversion process of a different type according to a comparison result of distance information of a preset region unit in the input image signal and a predetermined threshold.