1. An image processing apparatus for displaying a live view image obtained by implementing special effect processing on an image data on a monitor, comprising: an image processing unit that applies a plurality of different types of special effect processing on the image data to generate a plurality of different sets of special effect image data corresponding respectively to the plurality of different types of special effect processing; and a control unit that displays the plurality of different sets of special effect image data on the monitor while switching the plurality of different sets of special effect image data automatically in time series, wherein the control unit displays (A) a same special effect image data or (B) an image data without special effect processing before switching to a subsequent set of special effect image data during an automatic switch of the plurality of different sets of special effect image data in time series.