Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and an image processing integrated circuit

In captured image is sequentially input captured at predetermined time intervals, an image processing apparatus for identifying an image area to be a particular treatment, based on one of the captured images input, K (K ≧ 1) seed the magnification of the reduced image having a processing capability to generate within the predetermined time period, every time the captured image is input, each different L (L> K) of the species magnification of the captured image M (M the ≦ K) or fewer ratios, selected in accordance with ratios indicated for a photographed image input prior to the captured image, and compares the respective reduced image and the template image generated by the following magnification M species selected , identifying the image area on the basis of the comparison result.