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An anonymous donor who acquired a folder of discs at an August auction has uploaded 90 non-duplicated disc images from Tippett Studios’ archives to the Internet Archive. The collection includes some viewable clips, but most files are available as downloadable ISO images and have not yet been catalogued or fully reviewed.
An anonymous donor has uploaded 90 non-duplicated discs from the archives of the now-closed Tippett Studios to the Internet Archive, making a substantial collection of materials connected to the animation and visual-effects company available online. The upload follows the studio’s August closure and auction of its physical assets, and offers a way to browse or download material that might otherwise have ended up dispersed among private buyers.
The donor, who uses the name “TippettFan,” told Film Stories they spotted a folder of CD-ROMs and other discs at the studio’s August auction and purchased it for an undisclosed amount. They then digitized the contents and posted them to the Internet Archive. The files are presented as .ISO disc images, which preserve the contents of the original discs and can be downloaded for examination.
The collection includes some clips that can be watched online, among them tests of computer-generated creatures and a 2008 interview with Phil Tippett. Most of the material is not presented as ready-to-view video: it consists of disc images that users will need to download and explore. Film Stories reported that file descriptions point to behind-the-scenes images from RoboCop and Starship Troopers, slides related to Tippett’s work on the original Star Wars, and publicity stills from Catwoman.
The donor said the set contains 90 key discs without duplicates. The report does not say that this represents the full studio archive or all of its stored artwork. It describes a particular group of discs acquired at the auction, now copied online for public access.
A Public Window Into Tippett’s Archive
The upload gives film historians, artists and fans an opportunity to investigate material from a studio whose physical collection was being sold as it closed. For records that might have been difficult to locate or view in the future, digital copies provide a route to access beyond the buyers who acquired physical items at auction.
The significance will depend on what researchers find and how well the files can be identified and used. The archive includes a range of described materials, but it has not yet been fully examined publicly. Its value at this stage is both practical and preservational: a set of original discs has been copied and placed online, where others can inspect it rather than relying solely on private ownership.
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From Studio Closure to Online Copies
Tippett Studios was founded by Phil Tippett and was based in Berkeley, California. The company worked in animation and visual effects; Tippett’s film credits include Star Wars, RoboCop and Starship Troopers. Film Stories reported that the studio had faced financial trouble before it closed on August 28.
After the closure, props, memorabilia and artwork were sold in a two-day auction. That sale prompted concern that some materials could pass into private collections and become difficult for the public to see. The online archive does not reverse the dispersal of the studio’s physical holdings, but it makes the contents of the donor’s acquired discs available in digital form.
What the Disc Collection Contains
The archive’s full contents have not been documented in the report, and there is no indication that the 90 discs represent every digital record held by Tippett Studios. The amount of material that has been catalogued, the number of files that can be opened with current software, and whether additional archive items will be posted remain unclear.
It is also not yet clear how the material will be used by researchers or whether the online collection will receive further descriptions or organization. Film Stories said the bulk of the files requires downloading and that it may take weeks for historians and fans to work through them. That is an expectation, not a completed review.
Cataloguing the Newly Posted Files
The immediate next step is for users to inspect and document the disc images, identifying what they contain and which files are accessible. Film Stories said it planned to review some of the material and report back if it found items of interest. No timetable for that work, or for any broader cataloguing effort, was given.
For now, readers can consult the collection on the Internet Archive and the file listings cited in Film Stories’ report. The archive’s contents and their historical significance will become clearer as people examine the files; the available information does not establish what discoveries, if any, will emerge.
Key Questions
What has been uploaded?
90 non-duplicated discs from Tippett Studios’ archives, digitized as ISO disc images and posted to the Internet Archive by a donor using the name TippettFan.
Can the material be viewed directly online?
Some clips can be watched online, including creature tests and a 2008 interview with Phil Tippett. Most of the collection is in downloadable ISO format and must be explored from the disc images.
What kinds of material are described?
Film Stories reported file descriptions referring to behind-the-scenes images from RoboCop and Starship Troopers, slides related to the original Star Wars, and Catwoman publicity stills. The files have not all been reviewed publicly.
Does the upload contain the entire Tippett Studios archive?
That has not been established. The donor described 90 discs acquired at auction; the report does not say they represent all of the studio’s archives or artwork.
Source: hn
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