Pokemon Celebrates Year of the Snake with Ekans

Pokémon is ringing in the Lunar New Year of 2025, celebrating the Year of the Snake with a delightful animated short featuring the beloved snake Pokémon, Ekans and Arbok. Dive into the details of this charming video and discover how The Pokémon Company is marking this special occasion.

Pokémon Celebrates the Year of the Snake

Releases an Animated Short, Featuring a Shiny Ekans and Arbok

On January 29, 2025, Pokémon's official YouTube channel unveiled an animated short to commemorate the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Snake. This heartwarming video showcases a playful exchange between two Ekans perched in a tree, with one being a rare Shiny variant. The Shiny Ekans, captivated by its surroundings, accidentally falls onto a passing Arbok, leading to an unexpected evolution. Accepted by its peers, the now golden Shiny Arbok leads the others out of the forest.

This brief yet touching video resonated deeply with viewers. One fan poignantly remarked, "Even though we were able to meet, it’s sad to say goodbye," reflecting on the fleeting interaction between the two Ekans. Others appreciated the universal message of friendship, with one commenter noting the resemblance to children's interactions, where differences in appearance don't hinder immediate camaraderie.

The short also evoked nostalgia among fans, with some recalling their first encounters with Shiny Pokémon. A fan shared, "When I was playing Gold and Silver, the first Pokémon of a different color I encountered was Arbo. For some reason, it ran away from me at the time, and I was unable to catch it, something I still regret. However, I am very happy that we were able to meet again like this!"

Beyond the animated short, The Pokémon Company has planned various events and merchandise to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Pokémon GO’s Lunar New Year Event

Kicking off on January 9, 2025, Pokémon GO launched its Lunar New Year event as part of the Dual Destiny season, running from December 3, 2024, to March 4, 2025. This event boosts the encounter and Shiny rates of snake-like Pokémon, including Ekans, Onix, Gyarados, Dratini, Dunsparce, Snivy, and Darumaka. Notably, Darumaka, despite its humanoid appearance, is inspired by the Daruma doll, symbolizing good luck and perseverance.

The event also features themed Field Research tasks and special 2 km Eggs, which can hatch into Makuhita, Nosepass, Meditite, Duskull, and Skorupi. Additionally, a themed Timed Research offers players the chance to earn rare Zygarde Cells, essential for changing Zygarde’s forms.