Sephiroth

The former SOLDIER who sought to become a god by consuming the planet's life force after learning his alien origins.

Sephiroth serves as the main antagonist of Square's 1997 role-playing game Final Fantasy VII. A former soldier and coworker to Zack Fair, he is the superior of Cloud Strife. His physiology became superhuman after Shinra injected him with cells from the extraterrestrial lifeform Jenova while he was still a fetus. Upon discovering this origin, Sephiroth was consumed by rage and vengeance. He decided to take control of the Planet by harnessing its life force, aiming to annihilate all life to become a god amidst the destruction. His background is further expanded in the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII series.

Quick Facts

Series: Final Fantasy
First game: Final Fantasy VII (1997)
Creator: Tetsuya Nomura; Kazushige Nojima
Designer: Tetsuya Nomura
Weapon: Masamune
Race: Genetically modified Human

Lore & Background

Sephiroth was conceived as an antagonist and foil to Cloud Strife. While Cloud re-affirms his self-worth amidst a crisis of identity, Sephiroth rejects his identity to fulfill what he believes is his destiny. Character designer Tetsuya Nomura originally designed Sephiroth as a heroic SOLDIER operative just like Cloud, but the character was built by merging different aspects rather than copying one specific figure. His name derives from the Kabbalah, representing the ten attributes through which God reveals himself on the Tree of life.

In early drafts, his personality was brutal and cruel with a strong-willed, calm ego, and he was intended to suffer from Mako addiction, resulting in a semi-conscious state. Originally, Sephiroth was even planned to be Aerith Gainsborough's sibling due to similar hairstyles, but this was changed to her past love before being dropped entirely in favor of Zack Fair.

Reader's Guide

Sephiroth wields the "Masamune," an elongated nodachi he learned to use during his days in SOLDIER. The weapon is named after the famous Japanese swordsmith Goro Nyudo Masamune and has appeared in numerous Final Fantasy titles. Nomura drew inspiration for Cloud and Sephiroth's rivalry from the legendary animosity between Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojirō, casting Sephiroth as Kojirō. In terms of voice acting, Toshiyuki Morikawa provided the Japanese voice for most appearances, instructed to sound superior yet calm. English dubbing history includes Lance Bass in Kingdom Hearts (2002), George Newbern from Kingdom Hearts II (2005) through the Compilation series, and Tyler Hoechlin in Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020) and Rebirth (2024). Travis Willingham is set to voice him in the trilogy's final installment, Final Fantasy VII Revelation (2027), due to Hoechlin's unavailability.

Did You Know?

Jason Greenberg, an artist working on the original PC port, recalled a crash bug that occurred specifically during Sephiroth's Super Nova technique.
For Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, the staff designed Sephiroth so he is never seen blinking or breathing to emphasize his other-worldliness.
In Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020), Tyler Hoechlin replaced George Newbern as the English voice of Sephiroth, a role he also reprised in Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion.