TL;DR
Get movie-night favorites delivered free — and shop member deals
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Access to Prime Big Deal Days deals on October 6–7
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
An anonymous buyer who calls themselves “TippettFan” has uploaded images of 90 non-duplicated discs from Tippett Studios’ archives to the Internet Archive. The free-to-browse collection includes some viewable clips, while most of its contents are available as downloadable ISO files and have yet to be fully explored.
An anonymous buyer has uploaded digital images of 90 discs from the archives of Tippett Studios to the Internet Archive, making material connected to the closed animation and effects company available online. The collection includes clips and files related to the work of stop-motion animator Phil Tippett, though most of the discs are offered as downloads rather than material that can be viewed directly in a browser.
The contributor, who uses the name “TippettFan,” said they acquired a folder of CDs and other discs at an August auction of Tippett Studios materials. They then digitized the discs and uploaded the contents to the Internet Archive. The buyer’s identity and the amount paid have not been disclosed in the report.
In a statement quoted by Film Stories, TippettFan said some of the material was not available online and might not otherwise remain accessible in high resolution. The upload consists of .ISO image files representing what the donor described as 90 key, non-duplicated discs. The files contain gigabytes of data, according to the report.
Some items can be watched online, including CGI creature test clips and a 2008 interview with Phil Tippett. Other filenames 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 for Catwoman. The report does not establish that every file has been reviewed or that the descriptions have been independently verified.
Preserving Studio Material Online
The upload creates a public route to digital material that might otherwise have remained difficult to find after the studio’s closure and the sale of its physical holdings. It gives fans and researchers a chance to examine production-related materials associated with Tippett’s career and several major film franchises.
Its usefulness will depend on what the discs contain, how easily the files can be accessed, and whether the material can be identified and documented. Since most of the collection is in ISO disc-image format, viewers may need to download substantial files and use suitable software rather than browse everything as a conventional online gallery. The archive is a preservation effort, but the available reporting does not say whether it is a complete record of the studio’s work.
From Studio Closure to Auction
Tippett Studios was a Berkeley-based animation and visual-effects company founded by Phil Tippett, whose work includes stop-motion and creature effects for films such as Star Wars, RoboCop and Starship Troopers. Film Stories reported that the studio had faced financial trouble before it closed.
The company shut its doors on August 28, according to the report. A two-day auction later that month offered props, memorabilia and artwork. The disc folder that became the basis of the online archive was among the material acquired there. The report also says Phil Tippett was retiring, but provides no further details about his retirement or the studio’s closure.
““I quickly realized that some of this information wasn’t available online and might not ever be in the future in such high resolution.””
— TippettFan, the archive contributor, quoted by Film Stories
What the Disc Images Contain
The full contents of the archive have not yet been established. Film Stories said the files could take weeks for historians and fans to examine, and its report identified examples from filenames rather than documenting a full review of every disc. It is also unclear whether the 90 discs represent a substantial portion of the studio’s records or only a small selection.
The report does not specify the upload date, the buyer’s identity, the auction price, or whether Tippett Studios or Phil Tippett authorized the public release. It also does not discuss copyright status, usage permissions, or whether the Internet Archive upload could change or be removed. These issues should not be treated as settled based on the available account.
Further Cataloguing of the Archive
The immediate next step is for researchers and viewers to inspect and identify the uploaded files. Film Stories said it planned to review some of the material and report back if it found items of interest, but did not give a publication date or name a scheduled cataloguing project.
For now, the collection is available through the Internet Archive, with some clips viewable online and most material supplied as disc images. Further reporting may clarify the archive’s contents, how it is being catalogued, and any conditions on access or reuse.
Key Questions
What is the Tippett Studios archive?
It is an online collection of .ISO disc images from 90 discs that an anonymous contributor says came from Tippett Studios’ archives. The files were uploaded to the Internet Archive after the studio’s materials were auctioned.
Who uploaded the material?
The contributor uses the name “TippettFan.” Their real identity and the amount they paid for the discs have not been disclosed in the report.
Can the material be watched online?
Some clips are available to view online, including CGI creature tests and a 2008 interview with Phil Tippett. Most of the collection is provided as downloadable ISO files, so it is not all presented as a browser-ready video or image gallery.
What films are represented in the files?
Film Stories cited filenames referring to behind-the-scenes images from RoboCop and Starship Troopers, slides related to the original Star Wars, and publicity stills from Catwoman. The collection has not been fully reviewed, so the report does not establish the complete list of contents.
Does the upload preserve all of Tippett Studios’ material?
That is not known. The contributor described digitizing 90 non-duplicated discs, but the report does not say how those discs compare with the studio’s full archive or whether other materials were preserved elsewhere.
Source: hn
Halloween Picks
halloween
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
