Overview
- The Berkeley visual-effects shop founded by Phil Tippett is shutting down after filing for bankruptcy and is moving to liquidate its assets through an estate sale and auction.
- Founder Phil Tippett has announced his retirement and said he will keep his Oscars while making difficult decisions to sell other studio material.
- The estate sale lists production artifacts from decades of work, including Star Wars pieces such as AT-AT proofs, dejarik models, a Jabba the Hutt figure, an AT-ST and signed original trilogy posters.
- The studio’s financial troubles follow a 2024 acquisition by PhantomFX and earlier Chapter 11 proceedings, which sources say preceded the current liquidation.
- Tippett Studio helped pioneer stop-motion and go-motion effects and contributed to films from the original Star Wars trilogy to Jurassic Park, and the closure highlights ongoing industry pressure from thin margins, vendor consolidation, and global tax-incentive competition.