Tippett Studio Ends 40-Year Run with Berkeley Fire Sale Amid Bankruptcy
Phil Tippett, the Oscar-winning animator behind key visual effects in 'Star Wars' and 'Jurassic Park', has closed his Berkeley studio after nearly four decades. The closure follows a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and a failed acquisition by Indian firm PhantomFX in 2024. A three-day fire sale is currently underway at the studio’s location, offering decades of props, models, and equipment to the public. While Tippett retains his Academy Awards, he describes the liquidation as a painful but necessary step to clear the space. The event marks the end of an era for physical effects animation, though Tippett insists he is not fully retired and plans to continue working on new projects.