On the other hand, 2d animation requires A LOT of these hand-drawn sprites, to the point where I suspect the cost benefits of 2D become questionable. For example, Heroes of Might & Magic 3 moved to their sprites being pre-rendered 3d models (possibly also painted over in every frame), which look worse that the pixel-art sprites in 2D. I suspect they did it because it was just less work to do it in 3D.