There is a surreal feeling when watching stop-motion animation, a unique charm that computer-generated imagery simply cannot replicate. Movies from the 1970s and 1980s, especially in the sci-fi genre, hold their timeless appeal because filmmakers relied heavily on animatronics, miniatures, puppets, and painstaking frame-by-frame craftsmanship.

Few artists pushed that art form further than Phil Tippett. His fingerprints can be found across Star Wars, RoboCop, Jurassic Park, and countless other productions.

Now, after decades of groundbreaking work, Tippett has closed his Berkeley studio.

Phil Tippett is an Oscar-winning animator and visual effects pioneer whose career helped define the look of modern science fiction. His breakthrough came with the original Star Wars, where he worked on the famous Dejarik holographic chess sequence. He later developed go-motion techniques that brought creatures and vehicles to life in The Empire Strikes Back and Dragonslayer.

Tippett founded Tippett Studio in 1984, creating a home for practical animation and visual effects. The studio later produced the ED-209 for RoboCop and contributed to Jurassic Park, where stop-motion expertise intersected with emerging computer-generated techniques. Tippett won Academy Awards for Return of the Jedi and Jurassic Park.

The Berkeley facility has now been emptied following financial difficulties and bankruptcy proceedings, with props, models, equipment, artwork, and memorabilia offered through a liquidation sale held August 28 to 30, 2026. Tippett has indicated that he is keeping his two Academy Awards.

While Tippett’s studio closes its longtime Berkeley chapter, another animation visionary is preparing a futuristic detective story of his own.

Brad Bird is preparing Ray Gunn, an animated science-fiction detective noir arriving globally on Netflix on December 18, 2026. Set in the enormous metropolis of Metropia, the story follows private investigator Raymond Gunn, voiced by Sam Rockwell, as he becomes entangled in a case involving aliens, murder, and multimedia star Venus Nova, voiced by Scarlett Johansson.

Bird has described the project as a combination of classic detective movies and science fiction, with the concept dating back more than 30 years. The world draws from an imagined 1939 future filled with Art Deco influences, towering architecture, flying cars, and jetpacks. Tom Waits voices Ray’s one-eyed alien associate, Eyera.

Bird’s commitment to Ray Gunn also explains his decision to step away from directing Incredibles 3. Pixar lists Peter Sohn as director, with Bird remaining attached as writer and producer. The superhero sequel is scheduled to reach theaters on June 16, 2028.

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What do you think about Phil Tippett’s incredible influence on practical effects and stop-motion animation? Let us know in the comments.