Ekans Leads Pokemon's Year of the Snake Celebration

Pokémon is ringing in the Lunar New Year of 2025 with a delightful animated short centered around the snake Pokémon Ekans and Arbok. Dive into the details of this heartwarming video and discover how The Pokémon Company is commemorating the Year of the Snake.

Pokemon 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 a charming animated short to mark the Lunar New Year, celebrating the Year of the Snake.

This delightful video showcases a playful encounter between two Ekans dangling from a tree, with one being a rare Shiny variant. The Shiny Ekans, captivated by its surroundings, accidentally falls onto a nearby Arbok. This unexpected event triggers its evolution into a Shiny Arbok, which is then warmly accepted by other Arboks as they follow it out of the forest.

Despite its brevity, the short resonated deeply with viewers. One fan poignantly remarked, "Even though we were able to meet, it’s sad to say goodbye," reflecting on the brief yet touching interaction between the Ekans. Another viewer likened the scene to children playing, emphasizing that differences in appearance, like the Shiny variant, did not hinder their immediate and friendly connection.

Nostalgia also played a significant role in fans' reactions, with some recalling their first encounters with Shiny Pokémon. One 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 a series of events and merchandise to enhance the Lunar New Year celebrations.

Pokemon 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 for snake-like Pokémon, including Ekans, Onix, Gyarados, Dratini, Dunsparce, Snivy, and Darumaka. Despite Darumaka's more humanoid appearance, it's inspired by the Daruma doll, symbolizing good luck and perseverance.

The event also features themed Field Research tasks and special 2 km Eggs containing Pokémon like Makuhita, Nosepass, Meditite, Duskull, and Skorupi. Additionally, a themed Timed Research is available, offering players the chance to earn rare Zygarde Cells, essential for altering Zygarde's forms.