Pokemon Celebrates Year of the Snake with Ekans

Pokémon Rings in the Year of the Snake with a Charming Animated Short

Pokémon celebrated the 2025 Lunar New Year, the Year of the Snake, with a heartwarming animated short featuring Ekans and Arbok. The video, released January 29th, 2025 on the official Pokémon YouTube channel, showcases a delightful encounter between two Ekans, one of which is a Shiny variant.

The short depicts a humorous and touching interaction. The Shiny Ekans, captivated by its counterpart, accidentally falls onto a passing Arbok, triggering a surprising evolution. The newly evolved Arbok, now sporting a golden hue, is readily accepted by other Arboks, embarking on a journey together.

The video's brevity didn't diminish its impact; viewers expressed emotional responses, drawing parallels between the Ekans' friendship and childhood bonds, emphasizing that differences in appearance don't hinder connection. Nostalgia also played a significant role, with many recalling their first encounters with Shiny Pokémon in games like Pokémon Gold and Silver.

Beyond the animated short, The Pokémon Company organized various in-game events and released themed merchandise to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Pokémon GO's Lunar New Year Celebration

The Pokémon GO Lunar New Year event, running concurrently with the Dual Destiny season (December 3rd, 2024 – March 4th, 2025), boosted the appearance rates of snake-themed Pokémon, including Ekans, Onix, Gyarados, Dratini, Dunsparce, Snivy, and Darumaka. The event also featured special Field Research tasks, unique 2 km Eggs containing Pokémon like Makuhita, Nosepass, Meditite, Duskull, and Skorupi, and a Timed Research offering rare Zygarde Cells.

This multifaceted celebration provided fans with a variety of ways to enjoy the Year of the Snake, blending nostalgic charm with exciting in-game activities.