Pokemon Celebrates Year of the Snake with Ekans

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

Pokémon kicked off the 2025 Lunar New Year celebrations with a heartwarming animated short featuring Ekans and Arbok, the serpentine Pokémon. The video, released on 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 film depicts a humorous and touching interaction as the Shiny Ekans falls from a tree onto a passing Arbok, leading to an unexpected evolution. The newly evolved Arbok, now sporting a golden hue, is accepted by its peers, forming a captivating scene that resonated deeply with viewers. Many YouTube comments highlighted the emotional impact of the brief but memorable encounter, drawing parallels to childhood friendships and emphasizing the acceptance of differences.

The video also stirred nostalgic feelings among fans, triggering memories of their first Shiny Pokémon encounters in games like Pokémon Gold and Silver. The animated short's charm lies in its simplicity, effectively conveying a message of friendship and acceptance.

Beyond the animated short, The Pokémon Company orchestrated a range of Lunar New Year festivities and merchandise.

Pokémon GO's Lunar New Year Event

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

This multifaceted celebration successfully captured the spirit of the Lunar New Year, offering fans a delightful blend of animation, in-game events, and merchandise.