Originally Posted by ZeRoGravity

Yea, if you wanna suffer from low wages and cramp spaces where you can't breath studios.

Going to Japan in order to become an animator in Japan is probably the worst idea you can do. Staying in countries like America where you can get high wages and the demand for animators are high, and at least your working environment is a lot spacious and comfortable.

You ain't gonna go far if you are just doing anime, you might as well become a freelancer and make your own shit rather than working for a company and become famous like Makoto Shinkai.

It depends how old you are right now, of course starting young is always better. I wouldn't worry too much about knowing how to animate with software because if you get into a animation program they will teach how to use maya or 3d studio max or some other software that cost thousands of dollars because its what the industry uses. Just concentrate on your drawings, and work on your portfolio and take portfolio classes.