If that concept came from anyone other than Phil Tippett himself it might be considered Star Wars heresy, but the great man himself did indeed say it, and speaking to Jamie Benning on the Filmumentaries podcast he explained why he believed he wasn’t ready to take on the mega leap from the 1977 original to the greatest sequel of them all three years later.

Phil Tippett reflects on animating for The Empire Strikes Back and the self-doubt he felt at the time, despite already being a key part of Industrial Light & Magic.

In this clip, Tippett talks about feeling that his talent hadn’t yet grown into the level of skill the film demanded. Practising in secret whenever he could, the slow, repetitive process of learning stop-motion animation paid off. It’s a rare, honest insight into the reality behind one of the most iconic sequences in cinema history. Phil didn’t become a genius over night. It was a learned, practiced crafted, skill.

This conversation is taken from Episode 100 of The Filmumentaries Podcast, recorded in 2024.#

You can also support Filmumentaries very own Jamie Benning in his effort to complete a documentray focusing on Joe Alves, the designer of CE3K and Jaws. Head to their GoFundMe page and pledge your support.

Hello! I wanted to share a project that truly matters. A documentary is being made to honor Joe Alves, a legendary production designer whose work shaped iconic films like Jaws and Close Encounters. Your support can help complete this important film by funding a final trip to Los Angeles for interviews and location shoots. Please consider donating or sharing the campaign to help preserve Joe’s legacy. Thank you!