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An anonymous donor who bought a folder of discs at the August auction of Tippett Studios’ materials has uploaded images of 90 non-duplicated discs to the Internet Archive. The files include behind-the-scenes material and animation tests, but most are ISO images that users must download and explore; the collection’s full contents and any access restrictions are not yet clear.
A donor who acquired a folder of discs at the auction following Tippett Studios’ closure has uploaded images of 90 non-duplicated discs to the Internet Archive, making material from the animation and visual-effects company available to browse and download. The collection offers a digital route to some studio materials after its props, art and memorabilia were sold, although most files are disc images rather than ready-to-view videos.
The anonymous donor, who uses the name “TippettFan,” said they bought the disc folder at an August auction for an undisclosed sum and digitized its contents. In a note accompanying the upload, the donor described the files as ISO images of 90 discs with no duplicates. The source report says the collection amounts to gigabytes of material.
A small portion can be viewed directly online, including computer-generated creature test clips and an interview with Phil Tippett from 2008. Most of the collection, however, is stored as ISO disc images and needs to be downloaded and explored. Filenames point to behind-the-scenes images related to RoboCop and Starship Troopers, slides of Tippett’s work on the original Star Wars, and publicity stills from Catwoman.
The upload follows the closure of the Berkeley-based studio, founded by animator and effects artist Phil Tippett. Film Stories reported that the studio shut its doors on August 28 after a period of financial trouble, and that a two-day auction sold decades of props, memorabilia and art. The report also described Tippett as retired; the archive upload does not change the company’s closure.
A Digital Record After the Auction
The upload gives fans, researchers and film historians a way to access some studio materials that might otherwise have remained difficult to find. The auction sent physical objects into new ownership, while the disc images preserve a separate set of digital records in a publicly reachable location. That distinction matters: the archive is not a replacement for the studio’s collections, but it may make particular production materials easier to study and share.
The files could help document how effects and animation work developed across films including Star Wars, RoboCop and Starship Troopers. The full significance will depend on what the discs contain, how well the files can be opened, and whether they can be reliably identified and contextualized. The source report says the collection is large enough that examining it may take weeks.
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From Studio Closure to Disc Upload
Tippett Studios was founded by Phil Tippett, whose animation and visual-effects work appeared in numerous films. The company’s closure came after reported financial difficulties. The source account says it closed on August 28, after which a two-day auction offered studio props, memorabilia and art for sale.
At the auction, the donor noticed a folder containing CD-ROMs and other discs. After acquiring it, they digitized the contents and uploaded the resulting disc images to the Internet Archive. Film Stories reported that Brandon Sheffield drew attention to the upload on Bluesky. The available account does not identify the donor beyond the name TippettFan.
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What the Disc Images Contain
The upload’s complete contents have not yet been catalogued in the source report. Although some filenames describe material connected to well-known films, it is not clear how much of the collection consists of photographs, video, production documents or other files, or how complete and usable those materials are. An ISO image can require software or technical steps to inspect, so the files may not be immediately accessible to every visitor.
The donor’s identity, the purchase price and the circumstances under which the discs were originally stored or used are not disclosed. The report does not establish whether the uploaded files have been reviewed for rights, privacy or other restrictions, or whether the studio, Phil Tippett or any rights holders have endorsed the upload. The source describes the archive as free to browse, but that does not by itself resolve questions about reuse or reproduction.
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Cataloguing the Uploaded Collection
The immediate next step is for researchers and interested viewers to inspect the files and identify what each disc contains. Film Stories said it planned to go through the material and report back on findings it considered interesting; the source provides no timetable for that work. Further cataloguing could clarify which items are viewable online, what requires downloading, and how the material relates to particular productions.
For now, the archive is available through the Internet Archive, but its value as a lasting public resource will depend on documentation, accessibility and the status of the material. No additional release, official studio archive or preservation plan is confirmed in the source account.
animation and visual effects digital archives
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Key Questions
What has been uploaded?
The donor says the upload contains ISO images of 90 non-duplicated discs acquired in a folder at an auction of Tippett Studios materials.
Can visitors watch everything online?
No. The source report says a few clips, including creature tests and a 2008 interview with Phil Tippett, can be viewed online. Most of the material is stored as downloadable ISO disc images.
What films are represented in the archive?
Filenames reportedly point to behind-the-scenes images related to RoboCop and Starship Troopers, slides concerning Tippett’s work on the original Star Wars, and publicity stills from Catwoman. The collection has not been fully catalogued in the report.
Does the upload mean Tippett Studios has reopened?
No. The upload is a preservation effort by a donor following the studio’s closure. The source says the Berkeley-based company closed on August 28 and does not report any reopening.
Are the files cleared for reuse?
The source material does not say whether the files are cleared for republication or other reuse. Their presence in an online archive should not be treated as confirmation of permission; users should check the item details and applicable rights information.
Source: hn
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