Once your character is created, you are places in a large shop, in a non-persistent, non-collaborative subworld. This tutorial world exists solely to show you the basics of ToonTown, with liberal dialogue from the three denizens of this world, and a linear progression path to educate you with how to play.
This subworld includes all the basic skills, including fighting the monsters - the cogs, and actual hands on combat with a 'captured' cog.