DanQ:	How did RingTales (RT) come to be?
Fry:	Jim Cox and I have been friends and business partners going back to 1996 when Jim first contacted me (and T. Lewis) to produce the Over the Hedge film. We worked together on many projects since. In 2005, Jim came up with the idea of animating print comics for all digital media and I had the good sense to nod and say, "That's a really smart idea." Since then we've secured exclusive rights to The New Yorker cartoon library and animated 100 cartoons so far. Our ad-supported animations are up on iTunes, YouTube and newyorker.com. We'll be on MSN by late September.
DanQ:	Tell us about how you were approached to participate in the "Civilization: Daydreams" promotion, and what elements if any changed from that initial conception.
Fry:	Matt Kassan[, Senior Product Manager] of 2KGames saw and liked our New Yorker cartoons. He contacted us to help market the newest version of [Civilization IV, Beyond the Sword] with some original animation. We went back and forth on some different ideas and settled on parodying some of the quirky ways in which the game is customized and played by hardcore Civ fans.
DanQ:	What was your experience with the Civ series going into this promotion?
Fry:	Both Jim and I were familiar with the game, but had never played.
DanQ:	Do each of you take turns writing and animating your works, or how does that typically play out otherwise? How do you accomplish what you do techwise?
Fry:	In this case, since we were developing original material, we both worked on the basic concept and scripting. Once a script was approved we brought in a team to do a detailed story reel or animatic. A story reel is a series of static images showing key poses put to dialogue and sound effects. It's not animated, but it gives us a sense of timing and a rough over all look of the piece. After the reel is approved, we had it animated by an animation studio in Argentina. They did a pencil test (rough animation), then a color test, then final animation. We then did the intro and outro and final post-production sound edit in-house.
DanQ:	During the final post-production of your videos in-house, are there portions of your work fully animated that you ultimately cut for time or "feel" reasons? If so do you keep them in a 'personal collection' or two?
Fry:	Sometime we make small cuts to improve timing, but we rarely if ever do much major cutting at this stage. Earlier, in the story reel stage, is when we make major changes. So, no... we don't have a personal collection of "animated bloopers."
DanQ:	Your New Yorker cartoons are perhaps your best known work to date. Anything you want to note about them specifically or your other endeavours at RT?
Fry:	We're very proud of the quality of the New Yorker cartoons. They've found a huge audience so far with over 4 million downloads since March. Also, we're about to close deals on several new comic properties.
DanQ:	What would be your advice to anyone who told you they were looking to break into the animation business?
Fry:	Draw. Draw. Draw. Learn all the digital tools (Flash, Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, AfterEffects). There's never been a time in the history of animation or film, where the barriers to entry are so low. Almost anyone can animate and get their content in front of an online audience.
DanQ:	What computer or other electronic games do you typically play (series, title, genre), if any? Board games?
Fry:	I play the game the all-time favorite, "Keep My Wallet Away from My Daughters" daily. I've never won.
DanQ:	Now that your "Daydreams" involvement has concluded, will you two be purchasing your very own copies of Civilization IV and its expansion pack(s) in the near future?
Fry:	Actually, 2KGames graciously provided CivIV and the expansion packs to use as we developed the cartoons.
DanQ:	Are or would you like to be involved with the Civ series again in the future? If so, how or how would you like to be involved?
Fry:	We'd be thrilled to make more cartoons for the Civ series.

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