How many different transformers were there in the cartoon?

Answer 1

OK, here is the actual answer:

In the Generation One cartoon: 186 named characters that appeared.

Season One: 47.
(Optimus Prime, 6 minibots, 11 cars, 5 Dinobots, Jetfire, Megatron, 3 Jets, Soundwave, 5 cassettes, Reflector, Shockwave, 7 Combaticons, 3 Insecticons)

Season Two: 51
(5 Minibots, 7 Cars, Blaster, Perceptor, Omega Supreme, 6 Aerialbots, 6 protectabots, Alpha Trion, 4 Female Autobots, Devcon, Autobot X, 2 Tripplechangers, 3 Jets, 6 Stunticons, 6 Combaticons.)

Season 3 and Movie: 60
(4 Cars, Rodimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, 5 minibots, 3 tripplechangers, 4 autobot cassettes, Sky Lynx, 6 Technobots, 6 Throttlebots, Metroplex, Slammer, Six-Gun, Scamper, Wreck-Gar, Galvatron, Cyclonus, Scourge, Runamuck, Runabout, 3 Decepticon cassettes, Octain, Trypticon, 6 Predacons, 6 Terrorcons, Unicron, Beta)

Season 4: 28
(Fortress Maximus, Cerebros, 4 Autobot Headmasters, 3 Targetmasters, Fastlane & Cloudraker, Punch, Scorponok, 5 Headmasters, 3 Targetmasters, Pounce, Wingspan, Six-Shot and Counterpunch)

(I'm not going to count the nebulons, but I'll list them in case you're interested: 5 Autobot Headmasters, 6 Autobot Targetmasters, 6 Decepticon Headmasters, 5 Decepticon Targetmasters.)

In Beast Wars: 23
(Optimus Primal, Rhinox, Cheetor, Rattrap, Dinobot, Tigertron, Airazor, Silverbolt, Depth Charge, Tigerhawk, Megatron, Terrorsaur, Scorponok, Waspinator, Tarantulus, Black Arachnia, Inferno, Quickstrike, Rampage, Dinobot II, Starscream, Ravage, Transmutate.)

In Beast Machines: 8 new characters, plus 8 from Beast Wars.
(Only counting new characters: Jetstorm, Tankor, Thrust, Nightscream, Botanica, Stryka, Obsidian, Savage/Noble)

Robots in Disguise: 34
Optimus Prime, 3 Cars, 6 Spychangers, 4 trainbots, Indy Heat, Wrecker Hook, 5 construction bots, Megatron, 4 beasts, Scourge, 6 members of ruination, Tai.

Not sure about the number in Energon, Armada, and Cybertron.

Answer 2

Initially it was just the autocons and the decepticons, but they kept adding more, like the dinosaurs. Also the first animated movie showed that the planet they came from was alive as well (it had a name but I'm not sure if it transformed - you'll need someone geekier than I to answer that).

Answer 3

There were heaps of them, I can still remember Octomus
Prime saying Autobots Transform and Roll out!! haha LOL

Answer 4

there were autobots, decepticons, dinobots, insecticons. The movie added more, like Junk bots, those multi headed transformers,etc

Answer 5

More than meets the eye..