Ekans Featured in Pokemon's Year of the Snake Celebration

Pokémon celebrates the Year of the Snake with a captivating animated short featuring the snake Pokémon Ekans and Arbok. Dive into the details of this special video and discover how The Pokémon Company is commemorating the Lunar New Year of 2025.

Pokemon Celebrates the Year of the Snake

Releases an Animated Short, Featuring a Shiny Ekans and Arbok

On January 29, 2025, Pokémon’s YouTube channel delighted fans with an animated short celebrating the Lunar New Year, heralding the Year of the Snake.

The heartwarming short showcases a playful interaction between two Ekans dangling from a tree, one of which is a Shiny variant. Captivated by its own reflection, the Shiny Ekans accidentally falls onto a passing Arbok, leading to an unexpected evolution. As the newly evolved Shiny Arbok is embraced by its peers, it leads them away from the forest, creating a touching narrative.

This brief yet emotionally charged video resonated with viewers on YouTube. One fan poignantly remarked, "Even though we were able to meet, it’s sad to say goodbye," capturing the fleeting bond between the two Ekans. Another viewer appreciated the universal message of friendship, observing that despite their different appearances, the Ekans quickly formed a bond, highlighting the theme of unity.

The release of the animated short also stirred nostalgia among fans, with some reminiscing about their first encounters with Shiny Pokémon in games like Pokémon Gold and Silver. 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 rolled out a variety of events and merchandise for fans to enjoy during this Lunar New Year.

Pokemon GO’s Lunar New Year Event

On January 9, 2025, Pokémon GO kicked off its Lunar New Year event, boosting the encounter and Shiny rates for snake-like Pokémon. This event is part of the Dual Destiny season, running from December 3, 2024, to March 4, 2025.

Players can look forward to increased encounters with Ekans, Onix, Gyarados, Dratini, Dunsparce, Snivy, and Darumaka. Although Darumaka appears more humanoid, it draws inspiration from the Daruma doll, symbolizing good luck and perseverance.

The event also features themed Field Research tasks and special 2 km Eggs, which include Pokémon like Makuhita, Nosepass, Meditite, Duskull, and Skorupi. Additionally, a themed Timed Research offers rewards such as rare Zygarde Cells, essential for altering Zygarde’s forms.