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 on January 29th, 2025, on Pokémon's YouTube channel, showcases a delightful encounter between two Ekans – one a standard variant, the other a shimmering Shiny.

The short film depicts a humorous yet touching interaction. The Shiny Ekans, captivated by its counterpart, accidentally falls onto a passing Arbok. A comical threat from the other Ekans leads to the Shiny Ekans' evolution into Arbok, and it's subsequently joined by other Arboks, creating a captivating scene.

The video's brevity didn't diminish its impact; viewers expressed emotional responses, with some comparing the Ekans' bond to a childlike friendship transcending appearances. Nostalgia also played a significant role, with many recalling their first Shiny Ekans encounters in Pokémon Gold and Silver.

Beyond the animated short, The Pokémon Company expanded the celebration with in-game events and merchandise.

Pokémon GO's Lunar New Year Festivities

Pokémon GO joined the festivities with a Lunar New Year event starting January 9th, 2025, boosting the encounter and Shiny rates for snake-themed Pokémon. This event, part of the Dual Destiny season (December 3rd, 2024 – March 4th, 2025), featured increased spawn rates for Ekans, Onix, Gyarados, Dratini, Dunsparce, Snivy, and Darumaka. The inclusion of Darumaka, inspired by a lucky charm, added a symbolic touch to the event.

The event also included themed Field Research, special 2km Eggs containing Makuhita, Nosepass, Meditite, Duskull, and Skorupi, and a Timed Research rewarding players with valuable Zygarde Cells. This multifaceted celebration ensured a memorable Lunar New Year for Pokémon fans worldwide.