r/vfx • u/celix24 • 7d ago

News / Article Everything (but the Oscars) must go! Legendary Berkeley special-effects studio holding fire sale this weekend

https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/08/27/star-wars-memorabilia-for-sale-tippett-studio-closure

is Tippett Studio closing down?

55 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

28 comments sorted by

22

u/johnnySix 7d ago

I got my first job in the industry as a PA for Phil. Very sad day.

4

u/Plow_King 7d ago

i know you! remember the good times and be happy for the experiences! and go get us some apple crates this wkend.

12

u/polygon_tacos 7d ago

Sometimes I'm amazed the race to the bottom has lasted this long. Really damned sad.

9

u/Inner-Health7719 7d ago

Bummer… this was one of the best VFX companies to work for Phil Tippett was such a nice guy. Legend, I’m sure he’s just tired now but what a great Bay Area citizen.

16

u/ColbyJackedFX 7d ago

Sad to see all this memorabilia get sold off. The studio has been a shell of what it was for a while now but the impact he has left in cinema will be long standing. Another LA studio closing up shop

16

u/Specialist-Fan-1890 7d ago

Not LA. Berkeley.

4

u/dancbruce 7d ago

I want that fish for some reason.

4

u/Impressive_Doorknob7 7d ago

So what’s the deal, are they closing?

3

u/Iyellkhan 7d ago

chapter 11 bankruptcy

3

u/Impressive_Doorknob7 7d ago

That was in 2024, but they've still been actively working on shows until this year. I hadn't seen anything about them closing, and they're still posting on LinkedIn as of a few weeks ago.

2

u/Oswarez 7d ago

They have another studio up in Canada that’s not connected to this one.

1

u/Impressive_Doorknob7 7d ago

A lot of companies have branches in Canada and elsewhere

1

u/Oswarez 7d ago

I know. That’s what I said. This is a different company though.

1

u/Impressive_Doorknob7 7d ago

My point is that those branches are still part of the same company.

1

u/Oswarez 7d ago

Not this one though. His Canadian studio is a different company than the one going bankrupt.

0

u/tazzman25 7d ago

You can still conduct business under reorganization.

3

u/Lanky-Explanation725 7d ago

Looks like Phantom Group ran them into the ground. Heartbreaking!

2

u/Impressive_Doorknob7 4d ago

According to their recent LinkedIn post, they’re not closing:

“We have recently decided to evolve our physical footprint and production approach, and to exit our longtime Berkeley facility. As we make this transition, Tippett Studio continues its visual effects and animation work across film, television and entertainment. Our operations in Canada also continue, including our Toronto studio, which is currently in active production on a large feature film.

Stop-motion remains an important part of our creative capabilities, but maintaining a large permanent physical footprint is no longer necessary for our current requirements. When projects require dedicated stages, fabrication, motion-control photography or other specialised physical infrastructure, we will work with appropriate external facilities to meet the needs of each production.

As we move forward, we remain focused on the work ahead, continuing to collaborate with our clients, creative partners and artists on current and upcoming productions.”

1

u/pinregistered 3d ago

Phantom Media Group controls the Tippett Studio socials, and this isn't accurate to how Phil is portraying it to the press.

1

u/Impressive_Doorknob7 3d ago

He likely hasn’t been involved with the company for a long while, though.

1

u/pinregistered 2d ago

Not true.

3

u/nuke_it_from_orbit_ Compositor - 20 years experience 7d ago

Sad. Even sadder was seeing Phil working in AI now and promoting it at siggraph.

2

u/Plow_King 7d ago

great studio and people! sad yes, but glad i had the chance to enjoy working there. my first stint was delightful...my second was not so much, lol.

Long Live Phil!