To provide: methods for manufacturing an electron emission device having sufficient electron-emission characteristics and simple procedure; an electron source; and an image display apparatus.

The method for manufacturing the electron-emission device includes: a step of preparing a substrate with a carbon film; and a step of locally radiating an energy onto part of the carbon film under an atmosphere of carbon hydride or a hydrogen, or both the carbon hydride and the hydrogen. An electron source has a plurality of electron-emission devices, and each of them is manufactured by the method for the electron-emission device. The image display apparatus has the electron source, and a light-emitting member emitting light by electron irradiation thereto. The electron source is manufactured by the method.