Juck Somsaman
Founder & CEO, The Monk Studios
Founder and CEO
- The Monk Studios, Bangkok
- The Monk Games, Bangkok
- The Monk Entertainment, Vancouver
Profile
An award-winning filmmaker and producer with over 33 years of experience in Visual Effects and Animation, Juck is a Hollywood VFX veteran with more than 50 feature film and TV credits.
Educated in New York during the early days of the computer graphics industry, after spending 20 years in the US, Juck returned to his hometown of Bangkok, bringing his extensive experience and technical expertise to Thailand. He founded The Monk Studios with the goal of producing high-quality entertainment by collaborating with both local and international artists.
Under Juck’s leadership, The Monk Studios has grown significantly, initially offering VFX and animation services and quickly gaining international recognition for producing full-service, script-to-screen properties.
Awards
In recent years, Juck has produced award-winning short films, animated television series, theatrical features, and top-tier VFX for highly successful international movies.
Community
Juck is also a key figure in the local SIGGRAPH community, having served as the Chair of the Computer Animation Festival for SIGGRAPH Asia 2017 in Bangkok.
Creator Credit
Juck is the creator of the Netflix Original Series Sea of Love, the first preschool animation series by Thai creators, which highlights friendship at the heart of an ocean adventure.
Work History
2007–Current
- Founder and CEO
- The Monk Studios, Bangkok
- The Monk Games, Bangkok
- The Monk Entertainment, Vancouver
1991–2007
- Rhythm & Hues, Los Angeles
- Digital Supervisor
- CG Supervisor
- Sequence Supervisor
- Lighting Supervisor
Education
- MFA in Computer Arts, The School of Visual Arts, New York
- BA in Arts, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok
Visual Effects Credit
- Bangkok Breaking TV Series 2021, Production Executive: The Monk
- The Yinyang Master 2021, Production Executive: The Monk
- Lost in Russia 2020, Studio Head: The Monk
- Skyfire 2019, Studio Head: The Monk
- The Stranded TV Series 2019, Studio Head: The Monk
- Legend of the Ancient Sword 2018, Visual Effects Executive Producer: The Monk
- Animal World 2018, Visual Effects Executive Producer: The Monk
- Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back 2017, Visual Effects Producer: The Monk
- Rango 2011, Technical Production Supervisor: The Monk
- The Fifth Commandment 2008, Visual Effects Supervisor
- Night at the Museum 2006, Lighting Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues
- Superman Returns 2006, Digital Artist: Rhythm & Hues
- Elektra 2005, Digital Artist: Rhythm & Hues
- Garfield: The Movie 2004, Sequence Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues
- The Cat in the Hat 2003, Digital Artist: Rhythm & Hues
- Elf 2003, Digital Artist: Rhythm & Hues
- Daredevil 2003, Digital Artist: Rhythm & Hues
- Scooby-Doo 2002, Digital Artist: Rhythm & Hues
- Cats & Dogs 2001, Digital Artist: Rhythm & Hues
- Dracula 2000, Digital Artist: Rhythm & Hues
- Little Nicky 2000, Digital Artist: Rhythm & Hues
- The 6th Day 2000, Digital Artist: Rhythm & Hues
- Hollow Man 2000, Digital Artist: Rhythm & Hues
- Battlefield Earth 2000, Digital Artist: Rhythm & Hues
- Here on Earth 2000, Digital Artist: Rhythm & Hues
- Mystery Men 1999, Digital Artist: Rhythm & Hues
- Entropy 1999, Digital Compositor: Rhythm & Hues
- The Out-of-Towners 1999, Digital Compositor: Rhythm & Hues
- Soldier 1999, Digital Artist: Rhythm & Hues
- Star Trek: The Experience - The Klingon Encounter 1998, CG Supervisor
- Kazaam 1996, Digital Artist: Rhythm & Hues
- The Nutty Professor 1996, Animator
- Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls 1995, Digital Compositor: Rhythm & Hues
- Babe 1995, Digital Artist: Rhythm & Hues
- Waterworld 1995, Digital Artist: Rhythm & Hues
- Batman Forever, CG Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues
- Hocus Pocus 1993, Animator: Rhythm & Hues
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 1993, CG Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues
- Boomerang 1993, Titles Supervisor
Animation Credit
- The Tiger's Apprentice 2024, Production Executive: The Monk
- Monkey King: The Beginning 2024, Executive Producer: The Monk
- Sea of Love 2022, Creator, Executive Producer: The Monk
- The Seven Deadly Sins: Grudge of Edinburgh Part 1 2022, Production Executive: The Monk
- Wish Dragon 2021, Production Executive: The Monk
- Dragons: Rescue Riders: Huttsgalor Holiday 2020, Executive Producer: The Monk
- Duck Duck Goose 2018, Executive Producer: The Monk
- Animal World 2018, Head of Production: The Monk
- Strange Magic 2015, Animation Producer: The Monk
- Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV 2016, Producer: The Monk
- Talking Tom and Friends 2015-2018, Production Executive: The Monk
- Max Adventures: Atlantos 2015, Executive Producer
- Nine 2014, Executive Producer
- Paddle Pop Adventures 2: Journey Into the Kingdom 2012, Executive Producer
- Star Wars: Detours 2012-2013, Production Executive: The Monk
- Rango 2011, Technical Production Supervisor: The Monk
- Paddle Pop Adventures 2011, Executive Producer
- Escape of the Gingerbread Man!!! 2011, Executive Producer
- Howl 2010, Animation Executive Producer: The Monk
- Poison 2010, Executive Producer
- Paddle Pop: Pyrata 2008, Executive Producer