Pokémon celebrates the Year of the Snake with a special animated short featuring the snake Pokémon Ekans and Arbok. Read on to learn more about this special video and how The Pokémon Company is celebrating the Lunar New Year of 2025.
Pokemon Celebrates the Year of the Snake
Releases an Animated Short, Featuring a Shiny Ekans and Arbok
Pokémon’s YouTube channel released an animated short on January 29, 2025, to celebrate the Lunar New Year, marking the Year of the Snake.
The animated short features a humorous interaction between two Ekans hanging from a tree, one of which is a Shiny variant. Mesmerized, the Shiny one falls onto a passing Arbok, only to evolve after being threatened by its companions. Recognized as one of them, the other Arboks followed the Shiny golden one as it left the forest.
Though short, the video pulled at the heartstrings of some YouTube users. One fan stated, "Even though we were able to meet, it’s sad to say goodbye," referring to the brief interaction between the two Ekans. Another fan compared this interaction to that of children, noting that different appearances don't matter, as the two Ekans immediately interacted in a friendly manner despite one being a Shiny variant.
Meanwhile, others felt nostalgia after seeing the Shiny Pokemon. They remembered their first time encountering a Shiny Ekans on Pokemon Gold and Silver. "When I was playing Gold and Silver, the first Pokemon 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!"
Other than the animated short, the Pokemon Company also prepared events and merchandise for players to enjoy this Lunar New Year.
Pokemon GO’s Lunar New Year Event
On January 9, 2025, Pokemon GO announced its Lunar New Year event, increasing the encounter and Shiny rate of snake-like Pokemon. This event is part of the Dual Destiny season that started from December 3, 2024 to March 4, 2025.
The Pokemon with increased encounter rate are Ekans, Onix, Gyarados, Dratini, Dunsparce, Snivy, and Darumaka. Though the latter appears more humanoid, this Pokemon is inspired from a Daruma doll, signifying good luck and perseverance.
Additionally, the event includes themed Field Research tasks and special 2 km Eggs. The Pokemon included are Makuhita, Nosepass, Meditite, Duskull, and Skorupi. There is also a themed Timed Research, rewarding players with the rare Zygarde Cells, which is needed to change Zygarde’s forms.
Pokemon GO’s Lunar New Year Event
The official online Pokemon Center also released a set of plushies to celebrate the auspicious event. "With the Year of the Snake officially starting January 29, 2025, there’s no time like the present to assemble your very own Pokémon party posse to celebrate with."
The set includes several Pokemon with serpentine bodies. "If you’re looking for a full-sized Poké Plush, ssssseveral sssssnake-like Pokémon are available, including Snivy, Dudunsparce, and Giratina. If you’re looking for a more modest-sized friend, consider Gorebyss or Huntail." They also added a Lunar New Year Pikachu, sporting a themed costume with male and female variants.
For those who love to collect Pokemon pins, Pokemon center also added three pins for purchase. These pins are:
⚫︎ Onix oversize pin
⚫︎ Dunsparce and Dudunsparce pin set
⚫︎ Ekans pin
All of these merchandise can be found online in the official Pokemon Center website.
Sources:
Pokemon GO: Lunar New Year Event
Pokemon Center: Lunar New Year Merchandise