Ekans Joins Pokemon's Year of the Snake Celebration

Pokémon is ringing in the Year of the Snake with a captivating animated short centered around the snake Pokémon Ekans and Arbok. Dive into the details of this special video and discover how The Pokémon Company is marking the Lunar New Year of 2025.

Pokémon Celebrates the Year of the Snake

Releases an Animated Short, Featuring a Shiny Ekans and Arbok

On January 29, 2025, Pokémon's YouTube channel unveiled a delightful animated short to commemorate the Lunar New Year, celebrating the Year of the Snake.

The video showcases a playful exchange between two Ekans dangling from a tree, one of which is a rare Shiny variant. Captivated by its own reflection, the Shiny Ekans tumbles onto a passing Arbok and evolves amidst a playful scuffle with its peers. Embraced as one of their own, the other Arboks follow the newly evolved, golden Shiny Arbok as it ventures out of the forest.

This brief yet heartwarming video resonated deeply with viewers. One fan remarked, "Even though we were able to meet, it’s sad to say goodbye," capturing the poignant moment of the Ekans' parting. Another highlighted the universal bond between the characters, stating, "Different appearances don't matter; the two Ekans instantly connected in a friendly way despite one being a Shiny."

The animated short also stirred feelings of nostalgia among fans, reminding them of their first encounters with Shiny Pokémon. A fan reminisced, "When I was playing Gold and Silver, the first differently colored Pokémon I encountered was Arbo. It ran away before I could catch it, a moment I still regret. It's wonderful to reconnect with it through this video!"

In addition to the animated short, The Pokémon Company is offering a range of events and merchandise to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Pokémon GO’s Lunar New Year Event

On January 9, 2025, Pokémon GO announced a special Lunar New Year event, enhancing the encounter and Shiny rates of snake-like Pokémon. This event aligns with the Dual Destiny season, running from December 3, 2024, to March 4, 2025.

Players will have increased chances to encounter Ekans, Onix, Gyarados, Dratini, Dunsparce, Snivy, and Darumaka. Though Darumaka has a more humanoid appearance, it's inspired by the Daruma doll, symbolizing good luck and perseverance.

The event also features themed Field Research tasks and special 2 km Eggs, with Pokémon such as Makuhita, Nosepass, Meditite, Duskull, and Skorupi available. Additionally, a themed Timed Research offers players the chance to collect the elusive Zygarde Cells, essential for changing Zygarde’s forms.