Provided are a depth image obtaining section that obtains a depth image
from the same viewpoint as in the input image, a layer section that separates the
input image into a foreground image and a background image as layered images using
depth information of the depth image, a coding section that encodes the foreground
image, a background sprite generating section that generates a background sprite
image from the background image, and a sprite coding section that encodes the background
sprite image. The depth image from the same viewpoint as in the input image is
obtained in the depth image obtaining section, the input image is separated into
a foreground image and a background image as layered images using the depth information,
and based on the separated background image, a background sprite image is generated.