Pokémon is celebrating the Lunar New Year of 2025, the Year of the Snake, with a captivating animated short featuring the iconic snake Pokémon, Ekans and Arbok. Dive in to discover more about this delightful video and the exciting ways The Pokémon Company is marking the occasion.

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 an enchanting animated short to honor the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Snake. The video showcases a playful encounter between two Ekans perched in a tree, one of which is a dazzling Shiny variant. Captivated by its own reflection, the Shiny Ekans tumbles onto a passing Arbok, leading to a surprising evolution amidst a backdrop of friendly yet competitive companions. As the newly evolved Shiny Arbok departs the forest, it's followed by other Arboks, recognizing it as one of their own.

This brief yet emotionally charged video resonated deeply with viewers. One fan remarked, "Even though we were able to meet, it’s sad to say goodbye," reflecting on the fleeting interaction between the Ekans. Others drew parallels to childhood friendships, emphasizing that differences in appearance, like the Shiny variant, don’t hinder immediate connections. The short also evoked nostalgia among fans, with one sharing, "When I was playing Gold and Silver, the first Pokémon of a different color I encountered was Arbo. For some reason, it ran away from me at the time, and I was unable to catch it, something I still regret. However, I am very happy that we were able to meet again like this!"

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

Pokémon GO’s Lunar New Year Event

On January 9, 2025, Pokémon GO announced 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 for 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, offering chances to encounter Pokémon such as Makuhita, Nosepass, Meditite, Duskull, and Skorupi. Additionally, a themed Timed Research will be available, rewarding players with rare Zygarde Cells, essential for altering Zygarde’s forms.