Pokémon celebrates the Year of the Snake with a captivating animated short featuring the snake Pokémon Ekans and Arbok. Dive in to discover more about this heartwarming video and how The Pokémon Company is marking 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 and the Year of the Snake.
This charming video showcases a playful interaction between two Ekans dangling from a tree, one of which is a dazzling Shiny variant. Captivated by the scene, the Shiny Ekans falls onto a passing Arbok and, in a surprising twist, evolves after being confronted by its peers. Accepted as one of their own, the other Arboks follow the golden Shiny Arbok as it ventures out of the forest.
Despite its brevity, the video struck an emotional chord with many viewers. One fan remarked, "Even though we were able to meet, it’s sad to say goodbye," capturing the bittersweet essence of the Ekans' fleeting encounter. Another viewer likened the interaction to children, highlighting that differences in appearance were irrelevant as the two Ekans bonded instantly despite the Shiny variant.
For some, the animated short evoked nostalgia, particularly those who remembered their first encounter with a Shiny Ekans in 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. 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!"
In addition to the animated short, The Pokémon Company has lined up a series of events and merchandise for fans to enjoy during this Lunar New Year celebration.
Pokemon GO’s Lunar New Year Event
On January 9, 2025, Pokémon GO kicked off its Lunar New Year event as part of the Dual Destiny season, which runs from December 3, 2024, to March 4, 2025. During this event, players have a higher chance of encountering and catching Shiny snake-like Pokémon.
The Pokémon with increased encounter rates include Ekans, Onix, Gyarados, Dratini, Dunsparce, Snivy, and Darumaka. Despite its more humanoid appearance, Darumaka is inspired by a Daruma doll, symbolizing good luck and perseverance.
The event also features themed Field Research tasks and special 2 km Eggs containing Pokémon like Makuhita, Nosepass, Meditite, Duskull, and Skorupi. Additionally, a themed Timed Research offers players the chance to earn the rare Zygarde Cells, essential for transforming Zygarde’s forms.
