Ekans Spotlight: Pokemon's Year of the Snake Celebration

Pokémon is ringing in the Lunar New Year of 2025 with a special celebration centered around the Year of the Snake, featuring the beloved snake Pokémon, Ekans and Arbok. Dive into the details of the animated short released for this occasion and explore how The Pokémon Company is commemorating this festive time.

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 by releasing an animated short to mark the Lunar New Year, celebrating the Year of the Snake.

The video showcases a playful encounter between two Ekans dangling from a tree, with one being a striking Shiny variant. Captivated by the other, the Shiny Ekans inadvertently falls onto a passing Arbok, sparking a series of events that leads to its evolution. Once evolved, the newly formed Shiny Arbok, with its golden hue, is accepted by its peers and leads them out of the forest.

Despite its brevity, the short tugged at the heartstrings of many viewers. A fan remarked, "Even though we were able to meet, it’s sad to say goodbye," capturing the poignant moment of parting between the Ekans. Another viewer highlighted the universal appeal of friendship, stating that despite the Shiny Ekans' different appearance, the two Ekans bonded instantly, reminiscent of children's innocent interactions.

Beyond the animated short, The Pokémon Company has prepared a variety of events and merchandise to enhance the Lunar New Year celebrations.

Pokemon GO’s Lunar New Year Event

Kicking off on January 9, 2025, Pokemon GO launched its Lunar New Year event as part of the Dual Destiny season, running from December 3, 2024, to March 4, 2025. This event boosts the encounter and Shiny rates of snake-like Pokémon, including Ekans, Onix, Gyarados, Dratini, Dunsparce, Snivy, and Darumaka. Notably, Darumaka, despite its more humanoid appearance, draws inspiration from the Daruma doll, symbolizing good luck and perseverance.

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