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, focusing on a Shiny Ekans's journey. The video, released on January 29th, 2025, on the official Pokémon YouTube channel, showcases a humorous and touching encounter between two Ekans, one of which is a Shiny variant. The Shiny Ekans's accidental fall onto an Arbok leads to an unexpected evolution and a heartwarming acceptance within the Arbok community.

The short film resonated deeply with fans, evoking feelings of nostalgia and joy. Many viewers commented on the endearing interaction between the Ekans, highlighting the message of acceptance regardless of differences. The video also sparked fond memories for some, recalling their first encounters with Shiny Pokémon in classic games like Pokémon Gold and Silver.

Beyond the animated short, The Pokémon Company orchestrated a series of in-game events and merchandise releases to celebrate the Year of the Snake.

Pokémon GO's Lunar New Year Event

Pokémon GO joined the festivities with a Lunar New Year event, commencing on January 9th, 2025, and running concurrently with the Dual Destiny season (December 3rd, 2024 – March 4th, 2025). This event boosted the encounter and Shiny rates for various snake-themed Pokémon, including Ekans, Onix, Gyarados, Dratini, Dunsparce, Snivy, and Darumaka. The event also featured themed Field Research, special 2km Eggs containing Pokémon like Makuhita, Nosepass, Meditite, Duskull, and Skorupi, and a Timed Research offering valuable Zygarde Cells.

This multifaceted celebration showcased Pokémon's commitment to engaging with its fanbase during significant cultural events, offering a blend of nostalgic charm and exciting in-game experiences.