A wipe and special effect detection method in a gradual shot transition method used for editing a video stream is described. In a compressed domain of a video stream based on a picture difference between frames such s MPEG, (a) an interval, on which areas where intra-coded macro blocks (ICMB) are concentrated, is obtained and the interval is judged as a shot transition interval by a wipe and special effect when a running time of the corresponding interval exceeds a predetermined time period, (b) a corresponding interval is judged as shot transition by a wipe and special effect, provided that a count of intra-coded macro blocks in an image attained by projecting macro blocks in an interval where ICMB concentrated areas appear continuously on a temporal axis exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and (c) an interval where a ratio of intra-coded macro blocks is over a predetermined threshold value continues over/during a predetermined time is judged as a shot transition occurring interval by a wipe and special effect.