Phil Tippett closes historic Berkeley studio after bankruptcy

Oscar-winning visual effects pioneer Phil Tippett has closed his historic Berkeley, California studio after nearly 40 years of operation. The closure follows a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and an acquisition of Tippett Studio by the Indian visual effects company PhantomFX in 2024.

A multi-day liquidation sale was held to auction off decades of cinematic history, including models, production notes, and equipment used in major franchises such as ‘Star Wars’, ‘Jurassic Park’, and ‘Starship Troopers’. Notable items included an AT-AT walker model and miniatures from his stop-motion project ‘Mad God’. Despite the sale, Tippett stated he would keep his Oscar trophies, noting, “They’re the big-ticket items, and they were the most significant moments in my journey.”

Tippett, 74, indicated he has retired from the industry. However, the studio clarified via social media that while the Berkeley facility is closing, operations continue in Canada, including a studio in Toronto that is currently working on a major film production.