Look at it as volumetric pixels, pixels in a 3d enviroment. By arranging pixels in 3d space not only in 2d space you could make 3d objects out of something like minecraft blocks.

I found this nifty program that converts 3d objects into minecraft voxel recipes. As seen below.

So basically what this means is that if you make a 3d object in a certain way in maya etc you get the layer for layer recipe on how to build them in minecraft. My bro used this and made a 3d hand out of minecraft stoneblocks. I could show you that, but the pictures are on facebook so I'll post this bunny instead

For the C4D users, there is a free voxel preset written in XPresso for R11.5 and up.
http://xpressopresets.net/voxel-effect/

the whole site of this guy is quite nice
http://robertleger.net/blog/

oooh... Ok. I know what voxels is now. Thanks for the explanation guys.

Wikipedia is your friend dear Gryphon :3

i tried to make voxel effect in blender

its just a test

Oh just realised this totally fits this challenge, no wonder I had 3d pixel art stuck in my head..!

my entry


i choosed Mario theme because its one of the most famous games of all time ^^

I'm going to try to do a pac-man animation

I wonder if PS1 kind of 3d is retro enough :x

I was thinking in the direction Sega MegaDrive, NeoGeo, NES/SNES. But it's your interpretation.
Do whatever you want!