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 heartwarming animated short featuring Ekans and Arbok. 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 Shiny Ekans's accidental fall onto an Arbok leads to a surprising evolution, and a heartwarming acceptance by the Arbok community.
The short film's simple yet touching narrative resonated with viewers. Many commented on the endearing interaction between the Ekans, highlighting the themes of friendship and acceptance regardless of differences. The nostalgic element of seeing a Shiny Pokémon also evoked fond memories for many long-time fans, recalling their own early encounters with Shiny Ekans and Arbok in games like Pokémon Gold and Silver.
The video is available here:
Beyond the animated short, The Pokémon Company also launched several events and released merchandise to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
Pokémon GO's Lunar New Year Celebration
Pokémon GO joined in the festivities with a Lunar New Year event, commencing January 9th, 2025, as part of its 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 valuable Zygarde Cells.
