Ashley: the cult-favourite little witch of WarioWare

CharacterWarioWareDiamond City

A red-eyed schoolgirl who never smiles — and whom all of Japan adores. Introduced in WarioWare: Touched! on DS, Ashley lives as a recluse in a Diamond City mansion with Red, her little demon who turns into a magic wand. This portrait revisits “Ashley's Song”, the nursery rhyme that became a cult classic all the way into Super Smash Bros., and the reasons behind a popularity that reaches far beyond her original series.

Black pigtails, red eyes and a permanent scowl: Ashley is the most unsettling — and the most beloved — resident of Diamond City. This apprentice witch brews potions and spells in her haunted mansion, a world away from the bustle of the city.

Born in the microgame stable of WarioWare, she has overshadowed much of the cast, to the point of becoming a full-fledged idol, cult song included. Portrait of Nintendo's favorite witch.

Contents

• The witch of the Diamond City mansion
• Red, the demon turned magic wand
• “Ashley's Song”, the tune that became a phenomenon
• From one cameo to the next: the reluctant mascot
• Why Ashley is so fascinating
• Quick facts
• FAQ

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The witch of the Diamond City mansion

Ashley first appears in WarioWare: Touched! (Nintendo DS, 2005 in Europe), within the merry band of eccentrics gathered around Wario. Introduced as a young witch in training, she lives as a recluse in a gloomy mansion on the outskirts of Diamond City, surrounded by cauldrons, spellbooks and carnivorous plants.

Her design is a walking contradiction: a prim schoolgirl — red dress, long black pigtails — with a scarlet gaze and chilling composure. Neither wicked nor sweet: simply above it all.

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Red, the demon turned magic wand

Ashley never goes anywhere without Red, her familiar: a little red demon with horns, chatty and devoted, whose non-stop energy makes up for his mistress's deadpan calm.

• His most famous function: transforming into a magic wand — the very tool Ashley uses to cast her spells.
• He also plays the lab assistant, potion taster included, at his own risk.
• The pair form a classic comedy act: the unflappable witch and the over-excited sidekick.

You can't mention one without the other: Red is to Ashley what the wand is to the magician — literally.

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“Ashley's Song”, the tune that became a phenomenon

The character's stroke of genius is musical: Nintendo gave her a vocal theme, “Ashley's Song”, a deceptively cute nursery rhyme that lays out the witch and her potions one line at a time. The track became a cult classic to the point of eclipsing its original series.

The song enjoyed a second life in Super Smash Bros., where it stands among the signature tracks of the Wario universe — while Ashley herself shows up as an Assist Trophy, sowing chaos across the battlefield with her cursed zone. Quite the honor for a microgame supporting act.

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From one cameo to the next: the reluctant mascot

Episode after episode — WarioWare Gold (2018), Get It Together! (2021), Move It (2023) —, Ashley answers the call, always flanked by Red, always between two dubious experiments. Her popularity, meanwhile, has exploded far beyond: in Japan, the witch regularly rides high at the top of the affection polls devoted to the series, ahead of faces far older than hers.

Nintendo rode the wave: merchandise, promotional appearances, badges bearing her likeness… The little witch from the back of the classroom has become, without ever smiling, one of the official faces of the Wario galaxy.

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Why Ashley is so fascinating

Ashley's success comes down to a recipe that is rare at Nintendo: a gothic, deadpan character in a universe saturated with color and shouting. She cheers no one on, marvels at nothing — and it is precisely that detachment that makes her magnetic.

Add a hint of mystery — what is she really brewing in that mansion? —, an endearing familiar and one of the best songs in the company's catalog: everything was in place to turn an apprentice witch into a generational icon. The spell worked perfectly.

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Ashley at a glance

Name	Ashley
Role	Apprentice witch
First appearance	WarioWare: Touched! (DS, 2005 in Europe)
Residence	A mansion in Diamond City
Familiar	Red, a demon who turns into a wand
Cult theme	“Ashley's Song”
In Smash Bros.	Assist Trophy + dedicated tracks
Standout trait	Immense popularity in Japan

🍄 Want to keep the adventure going? Discover our Mario figurines in the shop.

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FAQ

• Who is Ashley in WarioWare?
  She is a young red-eyed witch who lives in a mansion in Diamond City. She first appears in WarioWare: Touched! on Nintendo DS.
• Who is Red, Ashley's companion?
  A little red demon who serves as her familiar and assistant. His specialty: turning into a magic wand so Ashley can cast her spells.
• What is “Ashley's Song”?
  The character's vocal theme, a cult nursery rhyme that tells of her daily life as a witch. It also features among the tracks of Super Smash Bros.
• Does Ashley appear in Super Smash Bros.?
  Yes, as an Assist Trophy: once summoned, she creates a cursed zone that hampers her opponents. Her song is part of the soundtrack too.
• Why is Ashley so popular?
  Her gothic style cuts against the colorful universe of WarioWare, and her double act with Red works wonders. In Japan, she regularly tops the series' popularity polls.

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