[FireChick]

The writing and direction was appalling! The story really went no where, was cliche and was dumb down for children.

Actually, it wasn't dumbed down. For example...

Spoiler for events in the special:

When the hunters try to snipe Toto, Panja/Caesar saves him and blood spews out of him. The UN imposter got killed when he confessed his intentions in the explosion, the machine locusts killed the birds and their bones got eaten (OMG WHAT THE FLIP?!? That freaked me out to NO end!!), and Toto got killed by the falling debris! These events sure don't seem like it was dumbed down for kids at all!

Plus, this special did REALLY well on the TV ranking system on ANN. It's at #2!

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news...31-september-6