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An anonymous donor known as TippettFan has uploaded digital copies of 90 non-duplicated discs acquired at an auction of Tippett Studios materials. The Internet Archive collection includes some viewable clips, while most of its contents are downloadable ISO disc images that have not yet been fully examined.
An anonymous buyer has uploaded digital copies of 90 discs from Tippett Studios’ archives to the Internet Archive, making a collection of animation and film materials available after the Berkeley studio closed. The upload preserves material acquired at an August auction, though most of it is stored as downloadable ISO disc images rather than as content ready to browse online.
The donor, who identifies themselves as “TippettFan,” told Film Stories they spotted a folder of CDs and other discs at the auction and bought it for an undisclosed amount. They said they digitized the contents and uploaded the images to Archive.org. The donor described the collection as 90 key, non-duplicated discs from Tippett’s archives.
A small number of clips can be viewed directly, including computer-generated creature tests and a 2008 interview with Phil Tippett. Most of the material is in ISO format, which preserves the contents of discs as files that users can download and explore. Film Stories reported that the collection amounts to gigabytes of data.
Filenames indicate that the discs include 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. These descriptions are based on the files’ labels; the contents have not all been independently reviewed or described in the report.
A Digital Record After the Auction
The upload makes a portion of Tippett Studios’ production history accessible beyond the buyers who acquired physical objects at the auction. Disc images can preserve material that might otherwise remain difficult to find, and give fans and researchers a way to inspect behind-the-scenes assets connected to films shaped by Tippett’s animation and effects work.
But online availability is not the same as a fully organized public collection. Since much of the archive must be downloaded and examined, its practical value will depend on people identifying, describing and contextualizing the files. The collection is a digital preservation effort by one donor, not evidence that every studio record or artwork has been saved or made public.
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From Studio Closure to Online Archive
Tippett Studios was a Berkeley-based animation and effects company founded by Phil Tippett. Film Stories reported that the studio had faced financial difficulties and closed on August 28. In the same month, props, memorabilia and artwork were sold in a two-day auction. The report also described the closure as coinciding with Tippett’s retirement.
The auction put physical studio materials into the hands of buyers, prompting concern that some items could end up in private collections. The disc folder later acquired by TippettFan offered a separate route for preserving some material: digitizing the media and sharing the resulting files online. The archive concerns those discs; the source report does not say that the donor acquired or digitized the studio’s broader collection of props and artwork.
“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 anonymous donor, as quoted by Film Stories
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What the Disc Images Contain
The full contents of the 90 disc images have not yet been catalogued in the source report, and it is not clear how many files will prove to be previously unavailable or how much material is viewable without downloading. The listed filenames provide clues, but they do not establish the contents or condition of every disc.
The report does not identify TippettFan, disclose the purchase price, or explain whether the donor reviewed rights and permissions for every item before uploading it. It also does not say whether additional studio materials will be digitized or made available. The upload should not be taken as confirmation that the studio’s entire archive has been preserved.
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Cataloguing the Online Collection
Film Stories said it planned to examine the archive and report back on material it finds noteworthy. Researchers and fans may also explore the downloadable images and share descriptions of their contents. For now, the next step is cataloguing and verifying the files; the source report gives no timetable for a complete inventory or for further uploads.
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Key Questions
What has been uploaded to the Internet Archive?
An anonymous donor known as TippettFan uploaded ISO images of 90 non-duplicated discs acquired at an auction of Tippett Studios materials.
Can the archive be watched or viewed online?
Some clips are available to view directly, including creature test footage and a 2008 interview with Phil Tippett. Most items are disc images that users need to download and explore.
What kinds of material may be in the collection?
According to filenames described by Film Stories, the discs include material related to RoboCop, Starship Troopers, the original Star Wars, and Catwoman. The full contents have not yet been catalogued in the report.
Does the online archive include all Tippett Studios materials?
No. The upload covers 90 discs acquired by one donor. The source report does not say that the studio’s props, artwork, memorabilia or complete archive have been digitized.
Source: hn
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