
Phil Tippett Closes Berkeley Studio, Auctions Decades of Film History
Veteran animator Phil Tippett has closed his namesake studio in Berkeley, California, after nearly 40 years of operation. The closure follows a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in 2024 and a subsequent acquisition by Indian company PhantomFX. Tippett is liquidating the studio’s assets through a three-day fire sale, auctioning 273 items including props, models, and memorabilia from iconic films like Star Wars and Jurassic Park. While Tippett retains his Academy Awards, he describes the process as involving 'painful decisions' and marks the end of a significant era in practical effects.










