Malaysian here.
So I'm kind stuck here in Malaysia, and may not afford to attend North America's top 2D animation colleges like Sheridan or CalArts. Right now, I'm considering to teach myself 2D.
Some questions:
Are there any online classes that teach 2D animation? There's Gnomon and Studio Technique Montreal but are any others you'd recommend?
Specifically, I'm considering using Anime Studio to 2D animate. What are the best online tutorial you'd recommend?
Should I go to Cartoon Supplies to buy some animation kit, or are there any cheaper alternatives?
Animation Mentor is a online course and their website as a resource page. There are some low price art programs that you can use, I can not remember any names at this moment. You could use a camera and do your animation old school style. That would take up paper and pencil with some time to bring you art work into a camera.
I can suggest you an workshop online.
Take a look, and if it's what are you looking for, try it.