Pokémon Rings in the Year of the Snake with a Charming Animated Short
Pokémon celebrated the 2025 Lunar New Year, the Year of the Snake, with a delightful animated short featuring Ekans and Arbok. This heartwarming video, released on January 29th, 2025, showcases a playful encounter between two Ekans, one of which is a Shiny variant. The short culminates in a surprising evolution, leaving viewers with a sense of wonder and nostalgia.
The video, released on Pokémon's YouTube channel, depicts a humorous interaction between the Ekans, with the Shiny Ekans's accidental fall onto an Arbok leading to an unexpected evolution. The newly evolved Arbok, now golden like its Shiny predecessor, is embraced by its peers, highlighting a message of acceptance and friendship. The brief but touching scene resonated deeply with fans, evoking comparisons to children's friendships and sparking discussions about the significance of appearances.
Many viewers expressed nostalgia, recalling their own encounters with Shiny Pokémon, particularly Shiny Ekans and Arbok from Pokémon Gold and Silver. The short served as a delightful reminder of cherished gaming memories.
Beyond the animated short, The Pokémon Company organized various in-game events and released themed merchandise to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
Pokémon GO's Lunar New Year Celebration
Pokémon GO joined the festivities with a Lunar New Year event, starting January 9th, 2025, and running as part of the Dual Destiny season (December 3rd, 2024 – March 4th, 2025). This event boosted the encounter and Shiny rates for several snake-themed Pokémon, including Ekans, Onix, Gyarados, Dratini, Dunsparce, Snivy, and Darumaka (whose Daruma doll inspiration symbolizes good luck).
The event also featured themed Field Research tasks, special 2km Eggs containing Pokémon like Makuhita, Nosepass, Meditite, Duskull, and Skorupi, and a Timed Research rewarding players with rare Zygarde Cells.
