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An anonymous buyer who calls themselves “TippettFan” has uploaded digital images of 90 discs from Tippett Studios’ archives to the Internet Archive. The material includes film production images and clips, though most of the collection is available as downloadable disc images that have yet to be fully explored.
An anonymous buyer has uploaded 90 digitized discs from Tippett Studios’ archives to the Internet Archive, making material from the closed Berkeley animation and effects company available to the public. The collection includes behind-the-scenes images and some video clips, offering a way to access studio material after its contents were sold at auction.
The buyer, who identifies themselves as “TippettFan,” said they found a folder of CD-ROMs and other discs at an August auction of studio property and bought it for an undisclosed sum. According to their description on the archive, they digitized the contents and uploaded ISO image files of 90 non-duplicated discs. ISO files are digital copies of discs; many items in the collection therefore require downloading and examining rather than viewing directly in a browser.
Some material can be watched online, including computer-generated creature test clips and a 2008 interview with Phil Tippett, the animator and effects artist who founded the studio. The disc listings also describe images related to the production of RoboCop and Starship Troopers, slides of Tippett’s work on the original Star Wars, and publicity stills for Catwoman. The report does not say that every item named in the listings has been independently reviewed or identified.
The upload follows the studio’s closure on Aug. 28. Film Stories reported that the company had been in financial trouble and that props, memorabilia and artwork were sold during a two-day auction. The newly posted disc collection is one part of the studio’s records; the report does not indicate that it contains all of the material held by Tippett Studios.
Access to Studio Production Records
The archive gives fans, researchers and film historians a public route to explore digitized material associated with a studio whose physical collection was dispersed through an auction. That matters because production images and test footage can document how visual effects and stop-motion work developed, including projects that are already familiar to movie audiences.
Its value will depend on what the files contain and how usable they are. The donor said some information was not available online and might not remain available at the same resolution. That is the donor’s explanation for acquiring and digitizing the discs; the report does not independently assess the files’ uniqueness, completeness or archival quality.
For now, the upload preserves access to a defined set of 90 discs, rather than resolving what will happen to the studio’s broader holdings. Some content is viewable on the archive site, while much of the collection is provided as large downloads. Researchers may need time and technical tools to identify, organize and interpret the files.
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The Studio’s August Closure
Tippett Studios was founded by Phil Tippett and worked in animation and visual effects. Film Stories connected Tippett’s work with films including Star Wars, RoboCop and Starship Troopers. The studio closed in August after a period of financial difficulty, according to the report, and its closure was followed by an auction of props, memorabilia and art.
The disc folder surfaced at that auction. The buyer’s account says they recognized that some of the material might not otherwise be accessible online, purchased the folder, digitized the contents and placed them on the Internet Archive. The report also credits Brandon Sheffield with drawing attention to the archive on Bluesky. It does not give a date for the upload.
““I quickly realized that some of this information wasn’t available online and might not ever be in the future in such high resolution.””
— The archive donor, identified as “TippettFan”
What the Disc Images Contain
The full contents and condition of the 90 discs have not been described in detail in the report, and the large set of files has not yet been comprehensively reviewed. It is unclear which items are genuinely new to the public, whether all files can still be opened, or whether the archive includes accompanying information that explains their dates and production context.
The report also does not establish who owns the original materials, whether the upload covers any rights or permission questions, or what happened to other studio artwork and records sold at auction. Those points should not be inferred from the fact that digital copies are now available online.
Reviewing the Uploaded Collection
Film Stories said it planned to examine some of the archive and report back if it found material of interest. Further findings may clarify what the discs document and how the files relate to Tippett’s productions, but no specific publication date or research schedule was given.
In the meantime, readers can browse the Internet Archive listing, watch the clips made available there and download the ISO files for closer examination. A fuller picture will depend on historians and fans cataloguing the material and sharing verifiable descriptions of what they find.
Key Questions
What was uploaded to the Internet Archive?
The upload contains ISO image files of 90 non-duplicated discs that the donor says came from Tippett Studios’ archives. The collection also includes some clips available to watch online.
Who digitized the discs?
The buyer identifies themselves as “TippettFan.” Their real name and the amount paid at auction were not reported.
What material is mentioned in the archive listings?
The report cites creature test clips, a 2008 Phil Tippett interview, and listings describing images related to RoboCop and Starship Troopers, slides of work on the original Star Wars, and publicity stills for Catwoman.
Can the whole collection be viewed online?
No. The report says a few clips can be viewed online, while most of the collection is provided as downloadable ISO disc images. The files may take time to examine.
Does the upload include all of Tippett Studios’ artwork?
The report describes 90 discs acquired at auction; it does not say the upload contains all of the studio’s artwork, records or other holdings.
Source: hn
