The Transformers (cartoon)/cast
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As The Transformers progressed over its four main seasons, characters would often come and go in the blink of an eye, while others stuck around for the majority of the show's length. As this show was made to sell toys to the audience, new characters were constantly being introduced to keep relevant products on-screen. For the purpose of this list, we have included every named Transformer, computer/robot, recurring human and alien in the cartoon, using concurrent names and terminology or, in the lack of any other option, names given after the fact via retcon. As with other cast lists for American Transformers shows, only the characters' English voice actors are listed and excludes any stand-in voices. Rather than listing every single character that appeared per season, each season's list only has newly introduced characters present.
Season 1
[edit]
The first season primarily revolves around the Ark and Nemesis crews after landing on Earth and waking up in 1984. As the season progressed, the introduction of toys from the 1985 lineup started to make their appearance. This season also had recurring humans working alongside the Autobots and Decepticons.
{{#if:true ||(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)}}
- Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen)
- Bumblebee (Dan Gilvezan)
- Wheeljack (Chris Latta)
- Jazz (Scatman Crothers)
- Bluestreak (Casey Kasem)
- Brawn (Corey Burton)
- Cliffjumper (Casey Kasem)
- Gears (Don Messick)
- Hound (Ken Sansom)
- Huffer (John Stephenson)
- Ironhide (Peter Cullen)
- Mirage (Frank Welker)
- Prowl (Michael Bell)
- Ratchet (Don Messick)
- Sideswipe (Michael Bell)
- Sunstreaker (Corey Burton)
- Trailbreaker (Frank Welker)
- Windcharger (John Stephenson)
- Hauler
- Grimlock (Gregg Berger)
- Slag (Neil Ross)
- Sludge (Frank Welker)
- Snarl (Hal Rayle)
- Swoop (Michael Bell)
- Others
- Skyfire (Gregg Berger)
- "Giant Autobot" hologram (Peter Cullen)|
- Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen)
- Bumblebee (Dan Gilvezan)
- Wheeljack (Chris Latta)
- Jazz (Scatman Crothers)
- Bluestreak (Casey Kasem)
- Brawn (Corey Burton)
- Cliffjumper (Casey Kasem)
- Gears (Don Messick)
- Hound (Ken Sansom)
- Huffer (John Stephenson)
- Ironhide (Peter Cullen)
- Mirage (Frank Welker)
- Prowl (Michael Bell)
- Ratchet (Don Messick)
- Sideswipe (Michael Bell)
- Sunstreaker (Corey Burton)
- Trailbreaker (Frank Welker)
- Windcharger (John Stephenson)
- Hauler
- Grimlock (Gregg Berger)
- Slag (Neil Ross)
- Sludge (Frank Welker)
- Snarl (Hal Rayle)
- Swoop (Michael Bell)
- Others
- Skyfire (Gregg Berger)
- "Giant Autobot" hologram (Peter Cullen)|| style="background:#ffdddd;" valign="top" |
- Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen)
- Bumblebee (Dan Gilvezan)
- Wheeljack (Chris Latta)
- Jazz (Scatman Crothers)
- Bluestreak (Casey Kasem)
- Brawn (Corey Burton)
- Cliffjumper (Casey Kasem)
- Gears (Don Messick)
- Hound (Ken Sansom)
- Huffer (John Stephenson)
- Ironhide (Peter Cullen)
- Mirage (Frank Welker)
- Prowl (Michael Bell)
- Ratchet (Don Messick)
- Sideswipe (Michael Bell)
- Sunstreaker (Corey Burton)
- Trailbreaker (Frank Welker)
- Windcharger (John Stephenson)
- Hauler
- Grimlock (Gregg Berger)
- Slag (Neil Ross)
- Sludge (Frank Welker)
- Snarl (Hal Rayle)
- Swoop (Michael Bell)
- Others
- Skyfire (Gregg Berger)
- "Giant Autobot" hologram (Peter Cullen) }}{{#if:;Decepticon ship crew
- Megatron (Frank Welker)
- Starscream (Chris Latta)
- Soundwave (Frank Welker)
- Skywarp (Frank Welker)
- Thundercracker (John Stephenson)
- Air Warriors<ref name="retcon">Denotes a character who previously went unnamed during the show's original run but was later named in other forms of fiction established by publishers such as; Fun Publications, IDW Publishing, Ask Vector Prime or various forms of media released in the Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity.</ref> (Michael Bell/Dan Gilvezan)
- Reflector (Chris Latta)
- Photons<ref name="retcon"/> (Ken Sansom)
- Shrapnel (Hal Rayle)
- Bombshell (Michael Bell)
- Kickback (Clive Revill)
- Insecticon Clones
- Rainmakers<ref name="retcon"/>
- Acid Storm<ref name="retcon"/>
- Ion Storm<ref name="retcon"/>
- Nova Storm<ref name="retcon"/>
- Others
- Shockwave (Corey Burton)
- Bitstream<ref name="retcon"/>
- Hotlink<ref name="retcon"/>
- Nacelle<ref name="retcon"/>
- Sunstorm<ref name="retcon"/>
- "Watchdogs"|
Autobots }}{{#if:;Decepticon ship crew
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Decepticons }}{{#if:| | Humans }}{{#if:*Narrator (Victor Caroli)
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Others }}{{#if:| | Misc }}{{#if:| | Misc }} |
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Season 2
[edit]
"Uh, Prime, we're gonna need a bigger camera..."
"Darn, looks like we may have to lose a few of our numbers."
The second season greatly expanded the cartoon's cast and focused more heavily on character-driven stories, with many characters getting their own "spotlight" episodes. With the new additions of figures sold in the 1985 lineup of toys, it practically doubled the original amount of characters that were seen in the previous season.
(New characters only) {{#if:true ||(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)}}
- Beachcomber (Alan Oppenheimer)
- Blaster (Buster Jones)
- Cosmos (Michael McConnohie)
- Grapple (Peter Renaday)
- Hoist (Michael Chain)
- Inferno (Walker Edmiston)
- Omega Supreme (Jack Angel)
- Perceptor (Paul Eiding)
- Powerglide (Michael Chain)
- Red Alert (Michael Chain)
- Seaspray (Alan Oppenheimer)
- Skids (Michael Chain/Dan Gilvezan)
- Smokescreen (Jack Angel)
- Tracks (Michael McConnohie)
- Warpath (Alan Oppenheimer)
- Superion (Ed Gilbert)
- Silverbolt (Charlie Adler)
- Air Raid (Rob Paulsen)
- Fireflight (Jeff MacKay)
- Skydive (Laurie Faso)
- Slingshot (Rob Paulsen)
- Defensor (Chris Latta)
- Hot Spot (Dan Gilvezan)
- Blades (Frank Welker)
- First Aid (Michael Bell)
- Groove (Frank Welker)
- Streetwise (Peter Cullen)
- Ariel/Elita One (Samantha Newark/
Marlene Aragon) - Moonracer (Morgan Lofting)
- Chromia (?)
- Firestar (?)
- Greenlight<ref name="retcon"/>
- Lancer<ref name="retcon"/>
- Others
- A-3/Alpha Trion (Corey Burton/
Tony Pope/John Stephenson) - Autobot X (Don Messick/Corey Burton)
- Dion (Corey Burton)
- Devcon (John Stephenson)
- Orion Pax (Laurie Faso)
- Robodoctor (Alan Oppenheimer)
- Guardian robots (?)|
- Beachcomber (Alan Oppenheimer)
- Blaster (Buster Jones)
- Cosmos (Michael McConnohie)
- Grapple (Peter Renaday)
- Hoist (Michael Chain)
- Inferno (Walker Edmiston)
- Omega Supreme (Jack Angel)
- Perceptor (Paul Eiding)
- Powerglide (Michael Chain)
- Red Alert (Michael Chain)
- Seaspray (Alan Oppenheimer)
- Skids (Michael Chain/Dan Gilvezan)
- Smokescreen (Jack Angel)
- Tracks (Michael McConnohie)
- Warpath (Alan Oppenheimer)
- Superion (Ed Gilbert)
- Silverbolt (Charlie Adler)
- Air Raid (Rob Paulsen)
- Fireflight (Jeff MacKay)
- Skydive (Laurie Faso)
- Slingshot (Rob Paulsen)
- Defensor (Chris Latta)
- Hot Spot (Dan Gilvezan)
- Blades (Frank Welker)
- First Aid (Michael Bell)
- Groove (Frank Welker)
- Streetwise (Peter Cullen)
- Ariel/Elita One (Samantha Newark/
Marlene Aragon) - Moonracer (Morgan Lofting)
- Chromia (?)
- Firestar (?)
- Greenlight<ref name="retcon"/>
- Lancer<ref name="retcon"/>
- Others
- A-3/Alpha Trion (Corey Burton/
Tony Pope/John Stephenson) - Autobot X (Don Messick/Corey Burton)
- Dion (Corey Burton)
- Devcon (John Stephenson)
- Orion Pax (Laurie Faso)
- Robodoctor (Alan Oppenheimer)
- Guardian robots (?)|| style="background:#ffdddd;" valign="top" |
- Main cast
- Beachcomber (Alan Oppenheimer)
- Blaster (Buster Jones)
- Cosmos (Michael McConnohie)
- Grapple (Peter Renaday)
- Hoist (Michael Chain)
- Inferno (Walker Edmiston)
- Omega Supreme (Jack Angel)
- Perceptor (Paul Eiding)
- Powerglide (Michael Chain)
- Red Alert (Michael Chain)
- Seaspray (Alan Oppenheimer)
- Skids (Michael Chain/Dan Gilvezan)
- Smokescreen (Jack Angel)
- Tracks (Michael McConnohie)
- Warpath (Alan Oppenheimer)
- Superion (Ed Gilbert)
- Silverbolt (Charlie Adler)
- Air Raid (Rob Paulsen)
- Fireflight (Jeff MacKay)
- Skydive (Laurie Faso)
- Slingshot (Rob Paulsen)
- Defensor (Chris Latta)
- Hot Spot (Dan Gilvezan)
- Blades (Frank Welker)
- First Aid (Michael Bell)
- Groove (Frank Welker)
- Streetwise (Peter Cullen)
- Ariel/Elita One (Samantha Newark/
Marlene Aragon) - Moonracer (Morgan Lofting)
- Chromia (?)
- Firestar (?)
- Greenlight<ref name="retcon"/>
- Lancer<ref name="retcon"/>
- Others
- A-3/Alpha Trion (Corey Burton/
Tony Pope/John Stephenson) - Autobot X (Don Messick/Corey Burton)
- Dion (Corey Burton)
- Devcon (John Stephenson)
- Orion Pax (Laurie Faso)
- Robodoctor (Alan Oppenheimer)
- Guardian robots (?) }}{{#if:;Main cast
- Astrotrain (Jack Angel)
- Blitzwing (Ed Gilbert)
- Dirge (Bud Davis)
- Ramjet (Jack Angel)
- Thrust (Ed Gilbert)
- Buzzsaw (Chris Latta)
- Menasor (Regis Cordic)
- Motormaster (Roger C. Carmel)
- Breakdown (Alan Oppenheimer)
- Dead End (Philip Clarke)
- Drag Strip (Ron Gans)
- Wildrider (Terry McGovern)
- Bruticus (Roger C. Carmel)
- Onslaught (S. Marc Jordan)
- Blast Off (Milt Jamin)
- Brawl (Tony St. James)
- Swindle (Johnny Haymer)
- Vortex (Johnny Haymer)
- Others
- Autoscout
- Blast<ref name="retcon"/>
- Deceptitran (Paul Eiding)
- Dropkicks<ref name="retcon"/>
- "Giant Purple Griffin"
- Sentinels (Gregg Berger)
- Head Guard (Greg Berger)|
The Movie and Season 3
[edit]
1986 was the year Hasbro decided to wipe a clean slate and advertise the new toys that were created specifically for The Transformers toyline (see: pre-Transformers). Thus the movie was made, killing off a lot of older season one characters in the then-future year of 2005, in order to pave the way for their new products that were hitting store shelves. The new cast of characters introduced in the film also became the focus for future stories. The third season, set mostly in 2006, added even more characters on top of the movie's cast, with the addition of Citybots, new combiners, new Minibots and more Triple Changers.
(New characters only) {{#if:true ||(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)}}
- Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime (Judd Nelson/
Dick Gautier<ref name="change">Denotes a character whose voice actor had changed due to the switch over between the movie and season 3.</ref>) - Ultra Magnus (Robert Stack/Jack Angel<ref name="change"/>)
- Arcee (Susan Blu)
- Blurr (John Moschitta)
- Broadside (Bill Martin)
- Eject
- Kup (Lionel Stander/John Stephenson<ref name="change"/>)
- Metroplex (Bud Davis)
- Scamper (Dan Gilvezan)
- Six-Gun (Maurice LaMarche)
- Slammer (Chris Latta)
- Outback (Dan Gilvezan/Gregg Berger)
- Pipes (Hal Rayle)
- Ramhorn (John Hostetter)
- Rewind (Townsend Coleman)
- Sandstorm (Jerry Houser)
- Sky Lynx (Aron Kincaid)
- Springer (Neil Ross)
- Steeljaw
- Swerve
- Tailgate (Ted Schwartz)
- Wheelie (Frank Welker)
- Bumblebee/Goldbug (Dan Gilvezan)
- Chase (Rob Paulsen)
- Freeway (Danny Mann)
- Searchlight (Steve Bulen)
- Wideload (Corey Burton)
- Computron (Bert Kramer)
- Scattershot (Stephen Keener)
- Afterburner (Jim Cummings)
- Lightspeed (Danny Mann)
- Nosecone (David Workman)
- Strafe (Steve Bulen)
- Primes<ref name="retcon"/>
- "Ancient Robot" (Michael Bell)
- "Powerful Robot" (Neil Ross)
- "Brooding Robot" (Milt Jamin)
- "Pre-Transformer" (Charlie Adler)
- "New Narrator" (Phillip Clarke)
- "U-Haul Robot" (Jack Angel)
- Others
- Beta (Susan Blu)
- Paradron Medics
- "Autobot Communicator" (Laurie Faso)|
- Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime (Judd Nelson/
Dick Gautier<ref name="change">Denotes a character whose voice actor had changed due to the switch over between the movie and season 3.</ref>) - Ultra Magnus (Robert Stack/Jack Angel<ref name="change"/>)
- Arcee (Susan Blu)
- Blurr (John Moschitta)
- Broadside (Bill Martin)
- Eject
- Kup (Lionel Stander/John Stephenson<ref name="change"/>)
- Metroplex (Bud Davis)
- Scamper (Dan Gilvezan)
- Six-Gun (Maurice LaMarche)
- Slammer (Chris Latta)
- Outback (Dan Gilvezan/Gregg Berger)
- Pipes (Hal Rayle)
- Ramhorn (John Hostetter)
- Rewind (Townsend Coleman)
- Sandstorm (Jerry Houser)
- Sky Lynx (Aron Kincaid)
- Springer (Neil Ross)
- Steeljaw
- Swerve
- Tailgate (Ted Schwartz)
- Wheelie (Frank Welker)
- Bumblebee/Goldbug (Dan Gilvezan)
- Chase (Rob Paulsen)
- Freeway (Danny Mann)
- Searchlight (Steve Bulen)
- Wideload (Corey Burton)
- Computron (Bert Kramer)
- Scattershot (Stephen Keener)
- Afterburner (Jim Cummings)
- Lightspeed (Danny Mann)
- Nosecone (David Workman)
- Strafe (Steve Bulen)
- Primes<ref name="retcon"/>
- "Ancient Robot" (Michael Bell)
- "Powerful Robot" (Neil Ross)
- "Brooding Robot" (Milt Jamin)
- "Pre-Transformer" (Charlie Adler)
- "New Narrator" (Phillip Clarke)
- "U-Haul Robot" (Jack Angel)
- Others
- Beta (Susan Blu)
- Paradron Medics
- "Autobot Communicator" (Laurie Faso)|| style="background:#ffdddd;" valign="top" |
- Main cast
- Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime (Judd Nelson/
Dick Gautier<ref name="change">Denotes a character whose voice actor had changed due to the switch over between the movie and season 3.</ref>) - Ultra Magnus (Robert Stack/Jack Angel<ref name="change"/>)
- Arcee (Susan Blu)
- Blurr (John Moschitta)
- Broadside (Bill Martin)
- Eject
- Kup (Lionel Stander/John Stephenson<ref name="change"/>)
- Metroplex (Bud Davis)
- Scamper (Dan Gilvezan)
- Six-Gun (Maurice LaMarche)
- Slammer (Chris Latta)
- Outback (Dan Gilvezan/Gregg Berger)
- Pipes (Hal Rayle)
- Ramhorn (John Hostetter)
- Rewind (Townsend Coleman)
- Sandstorm (Jerry Houser)
- Sky Lynx (Aron Kincaid)
- Springer (Neil Ross)
- Steeljaw
- Swerve
- Tailgate (Ted Schwartz)
- Wheelie (Frank Welker)
- Bumblebee/Goldbug (Dan Gilvezan)
- Chase (Rob Paulsen)
- Freeway (Danny Mann)
- Searchlight (Steve Bulen)
- Wideload (Corey Burton)
- Computron (Bert Kramer)
- Scattershot (Stephen Keener)
- Afterburner (Jim Cummings)
- Lightspeed (Danny Mann)
- Nosecone (David Workman)
- Strafe (Steve Bulen)
- Primes<ref name="retcon"/>
- "Ancient Robot" (Michael Bell)
- "Powerful Robot" (Neil Ross)
- "Brooding Robot" (Milt Jamin)
- "Pre-Transformer" (Charlie Adler)
- "New Narrator" (Phillip Clarke)
- "U-Haul Robot" (Jack Angel)
- Others
- Beta (Susan Blu)
- Paradron Medics
- "Autobot Communicator" (Laurie Faso) }}{{#if:;Main cast
- Galvatron (Leonard Nimoy/
Frank Welker<ref name="change"/>) - Cyclonus (Roger C. Carmel/Jack Angel)
- Scourge (Stan Jones)
- "Doomed Sweep" (Neil Ross)
- Other Sweeps (Multiple voices)
- Octane (Beau Weaver)
- Overkill
- Ratbat
- Runabout (Roger Behr)
- Runamuck (Roger Behr)
- Slugfest
- Trypticon (Brad Garrett)
- Predaking (Bud Davis)
- Razorclaw (Joe Leahy)
- Divebomb (Laurie Faso)
- Headstrong (Ron Feinberg)
- Rampage (Laurie Faso)
- Tantrum (Philip L. Clarke)
- Abominus (Jim Gosa)
- Hun-Gurrr (Stephen Keener/
Marshall Efron) - Blot (Tony St. James)
- Cutthroat (Tony St. James)
- Rippersnapper (Jim Cummings)
- Sinnertwin (David Workman/
Jered Barclay)
- Hun-Gurrr (Stephen Keener/
- Others
- Trannis<ref name="retcon"/>
- Gravedigger<ref name="retcon"/>
- Overcharge<ref name="retcon"/><ref name="title">Denotes a character who only appeared in the title sequence.</ref>|
Autobots }}{{#if:;Main cast
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Decepticons }}{{#if:*Unicron (Orson Welles/Roger C. Carmel<ref name="change"/>)
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Others }}{{#if:| | Others }}{{#if:| | Misc }}{{#if:| | Misc }} |
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Season 4
[edit]
Lastly, season four aka "The Rebirth" was set months after the return of Optimus Prime. Being only three episodes long, most characters from the 1987 lineup that were not the main focus of the story, only received roughly 90 seconds of screen time each, as the introduction of the Headmasters and Targetmasters were this season's sole focus.
(New characters only) {{#if:true ||(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)}}
- Brainstorm (Michael Bell)
- Chromedome (Frank Welker)
- Hardhead (Stephen Keener)
- Highbrow (Johnny Haymer)
- Fortress Maximus (Stephen Keener)
- Cerebros (Jered Barclay)
- Crosshairs (Neil Ross)
- Pointblank (Neil Ross)
- Sureshot (Steve Bulen)
- Cloudraker (Danny Mann)
- Fastlane (Rob Paulsen)
- Others
- Brainstorm (Michael Bell)
- Chromedome (Frank Welker)
- Hardhead (Stephen Keener)
- Highbrow (Johnny Haymer)
- Fortress Maximus (Stephen Keener)
- Cerebros (Jered Barclay)
- Crosshairs (Neil Ross)
- Pointblank (Neil Ross)
- Sureshot (Steve Bulen)
- Cloudraker (Danny Mann)
- Fastlane (Rob Paulsen)
- Others
- Brainstorm (Michael Bell)
- Chromedome (Frank Welker)
- Hardhead (Stephen Keener)
- Highbrow (Johnny Haymer)
- Fortress Maximus (Stephen Keener)
- Cerebros (Jered Barclay)
- Crosshairs (Neil Ross)
- Pointblank (Neil Ross)
- Sureshot (Steve Bulen)
- Cloudraker (Danny Mann)
- Fastlane (Rob Paulsen)
- Others
- Punch (John Moschitta)
- Rollbar (Dan Gilvezan) }}{{#if:;Headmasters
- Mindwipe (Stephen Keener)
- Skullcruncher (Chris Latta)
- Weirdwolf (Stan Jones)
- Scorponok (Stephen Keener)
- Targetmasters
- Misfire (Stan Jones)
- Slugslinger (Peter Cullen)
- Triggerhappy (Charlie Adler)
- Apeface (Dick Gautier)
- Snapdragon (Dan Gilvezan)
- Clones
- Others
- Counterpunch (John Moschitta)
- Sixshot (Neil Ross)
- Flywheels<ref name="title"/>|
Autobots }}{{#if:;Headmasters
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Decepticons }}{{#if:;Autobot Headmaster Nebulons
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Others }}{{#if:| | Others }}{{#if:| | Misc }}{{#if:| | Misc }} |
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Season 5
[edit]
The final season of The Transformers was simply made up of edited reruns of the previous four seasons and The Transformers: The Movie, with a "new" title sequence and live-action commercial bumpers and bookending segments, featuring Tommy Kennedy and an animatronic/stop-motion puppet of Powermaster Optimus Prime. Along with Powermaster Optimus Prime, several other 1988 characters featured in the toyline are only seen in the title sequence, via clips taken from commercials.
(New characters only) {{#if:true ||(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)}}
- Cloudburst<ref name="title"/>
- Landmine<ref name="title"/>
- Waverider<ref name="title"/>
- Targetmasters
- Cloudburst<ref name="title"/>
- Landmine<ref name="title"/>
- Waverider<ref name="title"/>
- Targetmasters
- Landfill<ref name="title"/>
- Quickmix<ref name="title"/>
- Scoop<ref name="title"/>|| style="background:#ffdddd;" valign="top" |
- Cloudburst<ref name="title"/>
- Landmine<ref name="title"/>
- Waverider<ref name="title"/>
- Targetmasters
| Autobots }}{{#if:| | Decepticons }}{{#if:;Humans
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Others }}{{#if:| | Others }}{{#if:| | Misc }}{{#if:| | Misc }} |
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Notes
[edit]- A lot of characters went unnamed during production and generally had reference names used for the animators and writers to go by when creating the episodes. Some of these names became public knowledge through old scripts and storyboards, while others were sometimes credited using those names for any dialogue they may have had.
- Over the subsequent years, many writers of comics and books had taken to using some of the unnamed characters in their stories while retroactively giving them proper names and even in some cases, personalities, far beyond what was shown on screen. Among the unnamed characters, there were some that were given fan-names and even subgroups like the Rainmakers, that had these fan-names later become canon through Hasbro/Takara, Ask Vector Prime and media produced through BotCon and the Transformers Collectors' Club.