Joe was an escapist. But escapism didn't do a good job of escaping reality when reality wouldn't let you... like not having money.
The Ad on top of everything, said you'd have to 'leave your old life behind' whatever that meant.
"'Wild Toons Studios?' Never heard of it." You go inside the small studio, finding the staff to be minimal.
You are very surprised by the 'interview' ... which amounted to being asked if you had no criminal record, no history of violent mental illnesses, and singing a disclaimer saying you'd read the ad.
The contract was to 'be a toon'. Apparently be a voice actor or motion capture.
Then... all you had to do was sign the contract. The moment you did however... You were ask to stepped through a door... and the door vanished behind you... and you were in a white void with a white floor surrounded by what looked like simple pencil test sketches. You heard a voice boom all around you.
"Welcome, we have dared to challenge the big name animation studios, and for that, we need to beat them in ways that they overwhelming production values can't match. Welcome to your new universe. You will be our first toon. Literally.
"We have legal rights now to your memories, identity, and reality. However, our researcher finds that our toons will be more effective if they have some agency in their fate, so you will retain your free will, and you will be allowed to pick what species of toon you'll become from the list. We've chosen endangered animals for the sake of public awareness. Also, you'll be a 'wookie nude' or 'barbie doll nude' toon with no pants. As part of the agency of the new you, your pocket reality will be a narrative sand box of sorts, which grow larger as we gain new contracts. You're our test run. Having one character is going to get boring fast. So your personal choices will mold what shape the setting will be... we'll try to avoid using our editor privileges unless we feel it'll directly lead to the show being unwatchable.
"Your old name, form, appearances, identity, memories, will be meaningless, only your sense of free will remain. You will have one base instinct above all else, to entertain the unseen audience. You won't stop because you are unable to... but because you won't WANT to."
"If you don't pick something from the list, one of the men on staff will... and I promise you, it won't be something you'd care for."