The visual effects world witnessed a significant transition with the closure of Tippett Studio’s historic Berkeley facility in August 2026. Founded in 1984 by visionary Phil Tippett and Jules Roman, the studio, known for its groundbreaking contributions to film, ceased operations at its physical home after nearly four decades. This closure followed a complex period, including a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and a subsequent acquisition.
The studio filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2024, shortly after an Indian visual effects firm, PhantomFX, acquired a majority stake in March 2024. A reorganization plan for Tippett Studio was confirmed in April 2025, culminating in PhantomFX completing its acquisition in July 2025. The final act for the Berkeley site, occupied by Tippett for 35 years, was a three-day liquidation sale held from August 28-30, 2026.
Several factors contributed to the studio’s shift away from its long-standing physical presence. Industry-wide Hollywood consolidation, increased competition from production tax incentives offered by various locations, and the ongoing shift from practical effects to computer-generated imagery (CGI) were identified as key influences.
Phil Tippett expressed a mix of emotions regarding the sale, acknowledging that ‘a lot of painful decisions’ were made. He also noted that he lacked space to keep many of the items. Tippett’s career began in the mid-1970s, and his early stop-motion work included the memorable holographic chess sequence in the original Star Wars. He was instrumental in developing ‘go-motion,’ an advanced stop-motion technique incorporating motion blur, famously used for the AT-ATs in The Empire Strikes Back and creatures in Dragonslayer. A pivotal moment arrived with Jurassic Park, where Tippett’s team transitioned from stop-motion puppets to pioneering CGI animation techniques that profoundly influenced character animation for decades.
Throughout its history, Tippett Studio’s legacy encompasses contributions to major film franchises, including Star Wars, RoboCop, Jurassic Park, Starship Troopers, The Matrix films, Hellboy, Ghostbusters, and the Twilight franchise. Phil Tippett himself has received significant accolades, including two Academy Awards (for Return of the Jedi and Jurassic Park) and an Emmy, alongside the George Méliès Award for Artistic Excellence. His long-term passion project, the stop-motion feature Mad God, developed intermittently over decades, finally debuted in 2021.
The liquidation sale offered a wide array of historical items, including models, artwork, equipment, and memorabilia from various films such as Mad God, The Empire Strikes Back, Starship Troopers, and Dejarik chess from Star Wars. While the Berkeley facility closed, the Tippett Studio name will continue under PhantomFX, with its Toronto-based office remaining active and reportedly working on a large feature film possibly titled ‘Sentinel’. The company’s updated operational approach involves utilizing external facilities for specialized physical infrastructure when needed, reducing the necessity for a large permanent physical footprint. The historical archive items auctioned are primarily expected to enter private collections, as they are unlikely to be housed in a public museum.
Despite these significant changes, Phil Tippett has made his intentions clear regarding his personal future. He explicitly stated that he does not intend to retire, proclaiming, ‘I will die with my sword in my hand.’ He will continue his creative work, including participation in the ‘Sentinel’ project. Of his personal achievements, he retained his two Oscars, considering them the most significant moments of his journey.