Sephiroth Action Figure

In the unprecedentedly epic RPG video game Final Fantasy VII released on the Sony PlayStation console in 1997 Sephiroth is introduced as main character Cloud Strife's past Shinra Soldier role-model. He slowly begins to discover that he is an experiment of scientist HoJo, created using Jenova cells from Mother, a headless being assuming the form of a woman, kept alive by artificial means, and is therefore lead to believe he is a descendant of the ancient magical bloodline called the Cetra, which died out years ago. The Cetra were a nomadic race, likely not of earthly origin, but many of his tribe settled down on the planet to build and lead an easier life, leading Sephiroth to feel betrayed by the descendant that is humanity. Sephiroth comes to the conclusion that his true purpose is to go back to the ways of the Cetra by taking the planet away from civilization for Mother Jenova, and to travel the cosmos alone together. As Sephiroth strays further from being a cold mercenary into an ungodly abomination by burning Cloud's hometown and slaughtering its citizens in a heinous uproar, feeling only the pent up rage of being used and betrayed by humanity in every conceivable way, Cloud grows to oppose, and resent him, confronting him every step in his path to obtaining control of the entire planet, before finally depleting him of all his power by the end of the game. Not only does he fail in obtaining control of the planet, he also loses control over Cloud's psyche within the Lifestream, the blood and soul of the planet. But this would not be the end of the One Winged Angel.

In the CGI film Final Fantasy VII Advent Children, taking place two years after the original game, a disease known as "geostigma" has spread throughout the planet, affecting many with its symptoms. The now reclusive Cloud finds himself confronted by a strange trio of silver-haired brothers who are the Remnants of Sephiroth, physical manifestations of his will and spiritual energy. Their leader, Kadaj, later transforms into Sephiroth after absorbing Jenova's head. After his resurrection, Sephiroth reveals that he has been using geostigma in a plan to corrupt the Lifestream and grant him control of the entire planet. He and Cloud then engage in a duel, in which Sephiroth displays enormous power.