Pokémon celebrates the Year of the Snake with a captivating animated short featuring the snake Pokémon Ekans and Arbok. Dive into the details of this special video and discover how The Pokémon Company is celebrating the Lunar New Year of 2025.
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 a heartwarming animated short to commemorate the Lunar New Year, celebrating the Year of the Snake.
The animation showcases a delightful interaction between two Ekans perched on a tree, one of which is a rare Shiny variant. The Shiny Ekans, mesmerized by its surroundings, accidentally falls onto a passing Arbok. This encounter leads to an unexpected evolution, as the Shiny Ekans transforms into a golden Arbok. Embraced by its new companions, the Shiny Arbok leads a procession out of the forest, leaving viewers with a touching narrative about acceptance and friendship.
The short video resonated deeply with fans. One viewer expressed, "Even though we were able to meet, it’s sad to say goodbye," reflecting on the brief yet poignant interaction between the two Ekans. Another fan drew parallels to childhood friendships, emphasizing that differences in appearance did not hinder the immediate bond formed between the Shiny and regular Ekans.
Many viewers felt a wave of nostalgia, reminiscing about their first encounters with Shiny Pokémon. A fan shared, "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 rolled out various events and merchandise to enhance the Lunar New Year celebrations.
Pokémon GO’s Lunar New Year Event
On January 9, 2025, Pokémon GO announced an exciting 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 of snake-like Pokémon, including Ekans, Onix, Gyarados, Dratini, Dunsparce, Snivy, and Darumaka. Notably, Darumaka, despite its 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, which can hatch into Makuhita, Nosepass, Meditite, Duskull, and Skorupi. Additionally, a themed Timed Research offers players the chance to collect rare Zygarde Cells, essential for changing Zygarde's forms.
