Pokémon Celebrates Lunar Zodiac with Ekans

Pokémon Rings in the Year of the Snake with a Charming Animated Short

Pokémon kicked off the 2025 Lunar New Year celebrations with a heartwarming animated short featuring Ekans and Arbok, the serpentine Pokémon. The video, released January 29th, 2025, on Pokémon's YouTube channel, showcases a delightful encounter between two Ekans, one of which is a Shiny variant.

The short film depicts the humorous and touching interaction between the two Ekans, culminating in the Shiny Ekans' evolution into Arbok after a surprising encounter. The evolved Arbok, now golden, is then joined by other Arboks, creating a memorable scene.

The video's emotional resonance with viewers is evident in online comments. Many expressed fondness for the brief friendship between the Ekans, while others shared nostalgic memories of encountering Shiny Pokémon in classic games like Pokémon Gold and Silver.

Beyond the animated short, The Pokémon Company has organized several events and released merchandise to celebrate the Year of the Snake.

A Special Pokémon GO Lunar New Year Event

Pokémon GO joined the festivities with a Lunar New Year event starting January 9th, 2025, boosting the appearance rates of snake-themed Pokémon, including Ekans, Onix, Gyarados, Dratini, Dunsparce, Snivy, and Darumaka. The event, part of the Dual Destiny season (December 3rd, 2024 – March 4th, 2025), also features themed Field Research, special 2km Eggs, and a Timed Research offering rare Zygarde Cells.

This multifaceted celebration offers Pokémon fans a variety of ways to enjoy the Year of the Snake, from heartwarming animation to exciting in-game events.