A moving image playback apparatus capable of starting within a short time to play back reverse direction moving images is provided. The apparatus includes two decoders and one output buffer. In standby, using I-picture in a specified GOP as a reference, a controller causes a storage device to sequentially read first coded image data of the pictures in a first GOP preceding a specified GOP and the pictures up to I-picture in the specified GOP, and causes a first decoder to decode the first coded image data. Moreover, during the decoding of the first decoder, the controller causes the storage device to sequentially read second coded image data of the pictures in the specified GOP and the pictures up to I-picture in a second GOP following the specified GOP, and causes a second decoder to decode the second coded image data. Thereafter, the controller causes the outputs from the first and second decoders to be written to the output buffer. Thereby, the decoded image data are outputted from the output buffer immediately upon start of reverse playback, and moving images are played back.