Renowned Visual Effects Company PhantomFX To Acquire Oscar-Winner Phil Tippett’s Iconic And Legendary VFX Company Tippett Studio

PhantomFX to purchase majority stake in Tippet Studio with offices based in the U.S., Canada, India, Dubai and UK

Legendary and Oscar-winning filmmaker Phil Tippett’s Tippet Studio—Tippett is responsible for VFX innovations on iconic hits like JURASSIC PARK and STAR WARS— has engaged in an agreement to sell the majority of stakes to Indian visual effects powerhouse PhantomFX, it was announced today by Tippet North American CEO Gary Mundell.

The company will continue to operate business-as-usual and will continue to provide high-level VFX and post-production services to the major studios, networks, and independents in Hollywood. The transaction represents a strategic move for both partners and will be instrumental in furthering innovation, fostering creativity, and driving growth for the VFX industry. Offices will continue to be based in the U.S., Canada, India, Dubai and the UK.  

PhantomFX recognises the value and prestige of the Tippett name and plans to retain the moniker as they expand into the western VFX market. A key aspect of the partnership will be PhantomFX collaborating with the legendary Phil Tippett and the Tippett team to develop stand-alone intellectual property (IP). The collaboration aligns with PhantomFX’s vision of fostering creativity and contributing to the storytelling process, further elevating their status within the industry. Mundell will stay on in his current role with a seat on the board alongside Cliff McDowell who has now moved into the COO position for North America. Phil Tippett will continue his involvement with Tippett Studio, having a seat on the board and continuing his creative work in studio.

Additionally, Tippett Canada will continue to play a vital role for the company by providing exceptional visual effects and storytelling services from north of the border. Tippett Studio and Ultra 8 Pictures also announced the launch of Tippett Productions last year, a Canadian-based venture to produce original content. The shingle will continue to create and shepherd new, original film and TV projects from a roster of animation and VFX artists, including several exciting IPs from the master, Phil Tippett himself.  

 
“The acquisition of Tippett by PhantomFX is driven by their strategic goal of establishing a strong presence in the highly competitive U.S. and Hollywood markets. Although Indian VFX studios, like PhantomFX, contribute significantly to major streaming giants like Marvel and Netflix there remains a perception that India primarily offers technical support rather than creative input. By partnering with Tippett, PhantomFX aims to challenge this stigma and demonstrate the innovative and artistic capabilities of PhantomFX in the global entertainment industry,” said Tippett’s Gary Mundell.

“I am honored to collaborate with Phil Tippett, a legendary figure whose incredible contributions to iconic works such as Willow, Jurassic Park, Starship Troopers, Twilight Trilogy, and numerous other masterpieces have long been a source of inspiration for me. I am immensely proud to align with such an innovative figure. This partnership will not only propel PhantomFX and its business endeavors forward, but it will also greatly benefit Tippett and its team. We are poised to bring substantial value to Tippett with PhantomFX's extensive resources, unmatched capabilities, and sheer power. Our investors will also stand to reap substantial rewards from this partnership, as it will bring forth a wave of high-quality, high-budget, and ultimately more profitable ventures. We are confident that together, our partnership will open doors to many astonishing ventures, leveraging our collective expertise and pushing the boundaries of creativity. PhantomFX and Tippett Studios will redefine the standards of excellence in our industry and create works of art that will stand the test of time. The possibilities are endless, and I am genuinely excited about the journey ahead,” said PhantomFX’s Bejoy Arputharaj.

PhantomFX is a renowned full-service visual effects company based in India, which has won several awards for its impressive work. The company has over 650 employees and is publicly traded on the National Stock Exchange (NSE - EMERGE). They have provided VFX work for many popular movie titles, such as THE AVENGERS, JOKER, FLASH, THE WALKING DEAD FRANCHISE, and OUTLANDER. The company's Chairman and Managing Director is Bejoy Arputharaj. PHANTOMFX is currently working on several exciting titles.

Tippett Studio projects include THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT and THE MANDALORIAN on Disney Plus, LOCKE AND KEY on Netflix, and Marvel Studio’s FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER. Tippett’s animated feature film MAD GOD premiered in 2022 at the Locarno Film Festival and played 20+ festivals and won six awards. It was released theatrically and streaming on Shudder that year. The film’s limited theatrical release grew to include over 130 bookings across North America, and it quickly became one of the most-watched premieres on the network.

Phil Tippett is the visionary behind some of cinema’s most iconic characters such as Jabba the Hutt and the Rancor Monster in RETURN OF THE JEDI, the Tauntauns and Wampa in THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, the Raptor and T-Rex stop motion puppets in JURASSIC PARK, and the ED-209 from ROBOCOP.

For more information, please visit www.phantomfx.com and www.tippett.com

About Tippett Studio
Tippett Studio is a premier, full-service, animation and visual effects production company helmed by two-time Oscar and Emmy award winner Phil Tippett, and staffed by designers, supervisors, animators and producers dedicated to delivering premium visual effects at a competitive price. From hands-on stop-motion animation to bleeding edge computer graphics, our Berkeley, California studio services clients from around the world, and has a reputation for excellence and customer satisfaction. Recent Tippett Studio projects include THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT and THE MANDALORIAN Season 2 on Disney Plus, LOCKE AND KEY Season 2 on Netflix, Marvel Studio’s FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER, the Let Someone Go music video, I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER on Prime, Showtime’s THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH and DC’s BLACK ADAM. Projects currently in production include Peacock’s TED Season 1, THE WITCHER, THE ORVILLE Season 3, BEACON 23 and STAR TREK STRANGE NEW WORLD. Tippett recently announced the launch of Tippett Canada, a fully functioning post-production studio that will be servicing clients including Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, Disney, Showtime, Legendary, and New Line including THE TOXIC AVENGER.

About PhantomFX
Phantom Digital Effects Limited (PhantomFX) stands at the forefront of creativity and innovation as a premier full-service creative studio, established in 2011 by visionary Bejoy Arputharaj. Specializing in delivering cutting-edge visual effects for the dynamic realms of film and television series, PhantomFX has earned a reputation for excellence and ingenuity.

Located in India, PhantomFX boasts a strong global footprint, with offices in key locations such as the United States, Canada, the UK, and Dubai. Our state-of-the-art facilities, located in Chennai, Mumbai, and Hyderabad, serve as vibrant creative hubs, nurturing over 650 exceptionally talented artists who consistently push the boundaries of creativity.

With a rich and diverse portfolio spanning numerous impactful projects, PhantomFX has played an integral role in bringing to life acclaimed productions such as "Dangerous," "The Avengers," "Supergirl," "Van Helsing," "Outlander," "The Flash," "The Man in the High Castle," "The Little Mermaid," "RRR," "Ayalaan," and many more. Each project underscores our commitment to delivering exceptional visual effects that captivate audiences worldwide.