The first G.I. Joe cartoon series was produced by Marvel and Sunbow Productions to follow the success of the toyline by Hasbro. G.I. Joe premiered as a five-part mini-series on September 12, 1983, and with the success of that animated introduction, a second mini-series was aired, G.I. Joe: The Revenge Of Cobra, on September 10, 1984. The ongoing series started on September 16, 1985. Sunbow's G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series ended on November 20 1986 after spanning a total of 95 episodes. G.I. Joe: The Movie was released direct-to-video on April 20, 1987. For various reasons, Sunbow Productions did not continue production for a third season and the company folded. Despite G.I. Joe's success, no other studio offered to produce.