Yeah, it doesn't really look hand-pixeled but there is no doubt that this looks really cool. Putting aside all the hand-pixeled business, this is looking awsome!

 It is based off a 3D animation, but I fixed most of the frames pixel by pixel 

3D base is mostly just for reference, and it's a LOT easier to animate in 3D. I still had to make sure that there enough colors to read it as Lava, at pixel by pixel level (as it quite a small sprite).

There is even a motion blur effect by dithering at the edges of the fastest point in the drop.

Note: If i decreased it to about 6-8 frames of animation, It would probably not look like a 3D animation hehe.

This doesn't look hand-pixeled - and you happen to be a 3D artist ...
Am I mistaken?