Sega approached the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in 1992 about producing two television series—"a syndicated show for the after-school audience" and a Saturday-morning cartoon—based on "Sonic". Kalinske "had seen how instrumental the launch of "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" cartoon series was to the success of the toyline" during his time at Mattel and believed that success could be recreated using "Sonic". The two cartoons, the syndicated "Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog" (1993) and ABC's "Sonic the Hedgehog" (1993–1994), were produced by DIC Entertainment. DIC also produced a "Sonic" Christmas special in 1996, and "Sonic Underground" in 1999, to promote "Sonic Adventure". DIC's "Sonic" adaptations are generally not held in high regard.