Ekans Leads Pokemon's Year of the Snake Celebration

Pokémon is ushering in the Lunar New Year of 2025 with a delightful animated short centered around the snake Pokémon, Ekans and Arbok. Dive into the heartwarming story and explore how The Pokémon Company is marking the Year of the Snake with special events and merchandise.

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 celebrate the Lunar New Year, welcoming the Year of the Snake.

The short animation showcases a playful encounter between two Ekans perched on a tree, one of which is a rare Shiny variant. The Shiny Ekans, captivated by its surroundings, tumbles onto a passing Arbok, leading to an unexpected evolution after a playful threat from its companions. Embraced as one of their own, the newly evolved Shiny golden Arbok leads the others away from the forest.

Despite its brevity, the video touched the hearts of many viewers. One fan remarked, "Even though we were able to meet, it's sad to say goodbye," reflecting on the fleeting yet poignant interaction between the two Ekans. Another viewer likened their interaction to that of children, highlighting that differences in appearance do not hinder friendship, as the Ekans bonded instantly despite one being a Shiny variant.

The video also stirred feelings of nostalgia among fans, who recalled their first encounters with Shiny Pokémon. One shared, "When I was playing Gold and Silver, the first differently colored Pokémon I encountered was an Arbok. 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!"

In addition to the animated short, The Pokémon Company has organized a variety of events and released special merchandise to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Pokemon GO’s Lunar New Year Event

Pokemon GO kicked off its Lunar New Year event on January 9, 2025, 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. The latter, though humanoid, draws inspiration from 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 offers players the chance to earn rare Zygarde Cells, essential for altering Zygarde’s forms.