Ekans Joins Pokemon's Year of the Snake Celebration

Pokémon is ringing in the Lunar New Year of 2025 with a delightful animated short, spotlighting the snake Pokémon Ekans and Arbok. Dive in to discover more about this charming video and how The Pokémon Company is celebrating 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 YouTube channel unveiled an enchanting animated short to celebrate the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Snake. The short captures a whimsical scene with two Ekans hanging from a tree, one of which is a dazzling Shiny variant. The Shiny Ekans, captivated by its surroundings, falls onto a passing Arbok, sparking an unexpected evolution after a playful tussle with its peers. As the newly evolved Shiny golden Arbok departs, it's followed by a trail of other Arboks, touched by the bond they share.

This brief yet emotive video resonated with fans, evoking both joy and a touch of sadness. One viewer poignantly remarked, "Even though we were able to meet, it’s sad to say goodbye," reflecting on the fleeting yet meaningful interaction between the two Ekans. Another fan highlighted the universal theme of friendship, noting how the two Ekans connected instantly despite their different appearances, likening it to children playing without a care for differences.

Moreover, the animated short stirred waves of nostalgia among viewers. One fan reminisced about their first encounter with a Shiny Ekans in Pokémon Gold and Silver, sharing, "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 series of events and merchandise to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Pokemon GO’s Lunar New Year Event

Kicking off on January 9, 2025, Pokémon GO launched its Lunar New Year event, enhancing the encounter and Shiny rates for snake-like Pokémon. This event is integrated into the Dual Destiny season, running from December 3, 2024, to March 4, 2025.

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

In addition to increased encounters, the event features themed Field Research tasks and special 2 km Eggs, containing Pokémon like Makuhita, Nosepass, Meditite, Duskull, and Skorupi. There's also a themed Timed Research that offers players the chance to collect Zygarde Cells, essential for transforming Zygarde into its different forms.