Pokémon rings in the Year of the Snake with a charming animated short featuring the serpentine Pokémon Ekans and Arbok. Discover more about this delightful video and how The Pokémon Company is celebrating the Lunar New Year of 2025.
Pokémon Celebrates the Year of the Snake
A Shiny New Animated Short Starring Ekans and Arbok
On January 29th, 2025, Pokémon's YouTube channel unveiled a heartwarming animated short celebrating the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Snake.
The short film showcases a funny encounter between two Ekans hanging from a tree; one a captivating Shiny variant. The Shiny Ekans's mesmerizing allure leads to an unexpected fall onto a passing Arbok, triggering a surprising evolution after a playful threat from its fellow Ekans. Now recognized as one of their own, the golden Shiny Arbok leads its new companions away into the forest.
While brief, the video resonated deeply with many YouTube viewers. One fan commented, "Even though we were able to meet, it’s sad to say goodbye," highlighting the bittersweet nature of the Ekans' brief friendship. Another compared their interaction to children, emphasizing that differences in appearance didn't hinder their immediate bond.
The appearance of the Shiny Pokémon also evoked nostalgic feelings for some, reminding them of their early encounters with Shiny Ekans in *Pokémon Gold* and *Silver*. One user shared, "When I was playing *Gold* and *Silver*, the first differently colored Pokémon I encountered was Arbok. It ran away, and I never caught it – a regret I still carry! But I'm so happy we could meet again like this!"Beyond the animated short, The Pokémon Company has organized exciting events and merchandise to enhance the Lunar New Year celebrations.
Pokémon GO's Lunar New Year Event
Kicking off on January 9th, 2025, Pokémon GO launched its Lunar New Year event, boosting the encounter and Shiny rates for several snake-like Pokémon. This event is part of the Dual Destiny season, running from December 3rd, 2024, to March 4th, 2025.
Pokémon with increased encounter rates include Ekans, Onix, Gyarados, Dratini, Dunsparce, Snivy, and Darumaka. While Darumaka might seem less serpentine, its inspiration from the Daruma doll, a symbol of good luck and perseverance, makes it a fitting addition.
The event also includes themed Field Research tasks, special 2 km Eggs featuring Makuhita, Nosepass, Meditite, Duskull, and Skorupi, and a Timed Research rewarding players with valuable Zygarde Cells—essential for evolving Zygarde.
