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. Released on January 29th, 2025, the video showcases a delightful encounter between two Ekans, one a Shiny variant, leading to a surprising evolution.

The short film depicts a playful interaction between the Ekans, culminating in the Shiny Ekans's evolution into Arbok after a comical mishap. The evolved Arbok, now golden, is then joined by other Arbok, creating a memorable scene. The video's brevity didn't stop it from resonating with viewers, with many commenting on the touching bond between the Pokémon and the nostalgic feelings it evoked.

The YouTube comments section highlighted the emotional impact of the short, with some viewers expressing sadness at the temporary nature of the encounter, while others compared the Pokémon's interaction to that of children, emphasizing the universality of friendship regardless of differences. Nostalgia for Shiny Pokémon encounters in older games like Pokémon Gold and Silver was also prevalent.

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

Pokémon GO's Lunar New Year Celebration

Pokémon GO joined the festivities with a Lunar New Year event starting January 9th, 2025, boosting the appearance rates of snake-themed Pokémon and increasing Shiny encounter chances. This event fell within the Dual Destiny season (December 3rd, 2024 – March 4th, 2025).

Featured Pokémon with increased encounter rates included Ekans, Onix, Gyarados, Dratini, Dunsparce, Snivy, and Darumaka (whose Daruma doll inspiration symbolizes good fortune). The event also featured themed Field Research, special 2km Eggs containing Makuhita, Nosepass, Meditite, Duskull, and Skorupi, and a Timed Research rewarding players with valuable Zygarde Cells.