Are shiny Legendaries exclusive to the Pokémon games?

[DaBiggestBird]

If they exist in the lore as a whole which includes the anime then either they would have to just change colors for no reason or there is a second individual of them each.

[TheSpaceGnome]

No they are also in the anime
https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/List_of_alternately_colored_Pokémon_(anime)

[DaBiggestBird]

Oh yes, how could I forget. Shiny Rayquaza was in the Hoopa movie. Man what a throwback. I remember collecting all of the Legendary Pokémon toys in McDonald’s happy meals at the time that movie was released, ah good times. I think the Mega Latios one was my favorite, it looked the most accurate and had a fun hyper beam mechanic. For some reason they painted Rayquaza in their default colors.

[DaBiggestBird]

The second part of my question remains unanswered though. Is shiny Rayquaza from the Hoopa movie the same Rayquaza in Destiny Deoxys and the Mega Evolution specials? There is just one individual for each Legendary right?

[TheSpaceGnome]

Legendaries are multiple individuals, they are just extremely rare, so the shiny ones are different individuals than non shinies. However I think exceptions exist, like arceus, I think there is only one of those.

[TheSpaceGnome]

I'm not sure about that rayquaza though as I've not seen that movie yet. I'm sure in some cases a non shiny becomes a shiny as well.

[DaBiggestBird]

Hmmm interesting. So there is more than one Regigigas or Eternatus.