Ekans Joins Pokemon's Year of the Snake Celebration
Pokémon is ringing in the Year of the Snake with a captivating animated short featuring the beloved 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.
Pokemon Celebrates the Year of the Snake
Releases an Animated Short, Featuring a Shiny Ekans and Arbok
On January 29, 2025, Pokémon's official YouTube channel unveiled a charming animated short to celebrate the Lunar New Year, ushering in the Year of the Snake.
The video showcases a delightful encounter between two Ekans perched in a tree, one of them being a rare Shiny variant. Captivated by its own reflection, the Shiny Ekans loses its balance and tumbles onto a passing Arbok. This unexpected fall triggers its evolution. Recognized by its new peers, the golden Arbok leads a procession of fellow Arboks out of the forest.
Despite its brevity, the short tugged at the heartstrings of many fans. One viewer remarked, "Even though we were able to meet, it’s sad to say goodbye," reflecting on the fleeting connection between the Ekans. Another fan drew parallels to childhood friendships, noting that despite their different appearances, the two Ekans immediately bonded in a friendly manner.
The video also stirred feelings of nostalgia among viewers, particularly those who reminisced about their first encounters with Shiny Pokémon. A fan shared, "When I was playing Gold and Silver, the first differently colored Pokémon I encountered was Arbok. It ran away from me, which I still regret. I'm glad we could meet again through this!"
In addition to the animated short, The Pokémon Company has planned various events and released special merchandise to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
Pokemon GO’s Lunar New Year Event
On January 9, 2025, Pokémon GO announced a special Lunar New Year event, boosting the encounter and Shiny rates for snake-like Pokémon. This event is part of the Dual Destiny season, running from December 3, 2024, to March 4, 2025.
During the event, players can look forward to increased encounters with Ekans, Onix, Gyarados, Dratini, Dunsparce, Snivy, and Darumaka. Although Darumaka appears more humanoid, it draws inspiration from the Daruma doll, symbolizing good luck and perseverance.
The event also features themed Field Research tasks and special 2 km Eggs containing Makuhita, Nosepass, Meditite, Duskull, and Skorupi. Additionally, a themed Timed Research offers players the chance to earn rare Zygarde Cells, essential for transforming Zygarde's forms.
