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An anonymous auction buyer has digitized 90 non-duplicated discs from Tippett Studios’ archives and uploaded them to the Internet Archive. The material includes film-related images and clips, but most of the collection is available as downloadable ISO disc images rather than ready-to-view files.
An anonymous buyer has uploaded digitized material from 90 Tippett Studios archive discs to the Internet Archive, making a portion of the closed Berkeley effects studio’s holdings available to the public. The collection, which includes film-related images and clips, offers a way to access some materials after the studio’s closure and an auction of its possessions.
The donor, who uses the name “TippettFan,” said they bought a folder of CD-ROMs and other discs at the studio’s August auction. They digitized the contents and uploaded them as ISO image files—digital copies of discs that users can download and examine. The donor said the folder contained 90 key discs without duplicates.
The archive includes a small number of clips that can be viewed online, including computer-generated creature tests and a 2008 interview with Phil Tippett. Most of the material is not presented as a browsable video or image gallery: the bulk is contained in downloadable disc images, described in the report as several gigabytes of files.
File descriptions point to behind-the-scenes images connected with RoboCop and Starship Troopers, slides of Tippett’s work on the original Star Wars, and publicity stills from Catwoman. Those descriptions indicate the range of the collection, but the source report does not provide a full inventory or establish that every file has been reviewed.
A Public Route to Studio Materials
The upload makes some material from a major effects and animation studio available outside private collections. The report said the studio’s art and memorabilia were sold in a two-day auction as it closed, prompting concern that items might become difficult for the public to see. Digitizing the discs gives researchers and fans another way to encounter part of that history.
The archive may also support future research into Tippett’s work and the production processes behind films including Star Wars, RoboCop and Starship Troopers. Its usefulness will depend on what the discs contain, how accessible the files are, and whether the material can be identified and contextualized. The upload is a preservation effort, but it does not mean the studio’s entire archive has been gathered in one place or made public.
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The Studio’s August Closure
Tippett Studios was founded by effects artist and animator Phil Tippett and was based in Berkeley, California. Film Stories reported that the company had experienced financial trouble before closing on August 28. The report also said Phil Tippett was retiring.
As part of the winding down, studio props, memorabilia and artwork were sold through a two-day auction in August. The discs acquired by TippettFan were among the auctioned material, according to the donor’s account quoted by Film Stories. The source does not say that the auction or the online upload covered all records and creative materials held by the studio.
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What the Disc Images Contain
The complete contents of the 90 discs have not been described in the source report, and the files have not been presented as a fully catalogued collection. Most items are ISO images, so users may need to download and inspect the disc files to find specific material. The report does not confirm how much of the content is viewable directly online, or whether all files can be opened with commonly used software.
It is also unclear whether other Tippett Studios materials were digitized, who owns the physical originals, or whether further archive releases are planned. The donor is anonymous beyond the name “TippettFan,” and the sum paid for the discs has not been disclosed. The source does not detail permissions or access conditions for individual items beyond their availability through the Internet Archive.
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Cataloguing the Uploaded Collection
The immediate next step for anyone interested is to consult the Internet Archive listing and its file descriptions, then review the disc images where material is not available as a streaming clip. The collection may take time to examine: Film Stories described it as a large set of files that historians and fans could spend weeks working through.
Film Stories said it would review some of the material and report back if it found items of interest. The source does not give a timetable for that work or announce plans for a formal catalogue. Any further findings will depend on closer inspection of the uploaded files and confirmation of what they show.
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Key Questions
What has been uploaded to the Internet Archive?
The upload contains ISO image files from 90 non-duplicated discs acquired at a Tippett Studios auction, according to the anonymous donor.
What kinds of material are mentioned?
The report points to behind-the-scenes images related to RoboCop and Starship Troopers, slides of work on the original Star Wars, and other film materials. It also identifies viewable clips, including creature tests and a 2008 Phil Tippett interview.
Can the files all be watched or viewed online?
No. The source says a few clips can be viewed online, while most of the collection is provided as downloadable ISO disc images. The report does not specify how easily every file can be accessed.
Does the archive include everything from Tippett Studios?
There is no indication that it does. The upload covers the discs bought by one auction attendee; the source does not establish that the studio’s full collection has been digitized or released.
Source: hn
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