Aerith Gainsborough is a key character in the Final Fantasy VII series. Playable in the original game and remake, she also appears in several spin-offs. As the last Cetra, an ancient magical race, Aerith is pursued by Shinra for her powers. She joins Cloud's quest after meeting him in Midgar. Aerith is known for her upbeat personality and compassion.

Final Fantasy is a globally successful fantasy anthology media franchise, established by Hironobu Sakaguchi and currently owned by Square Enix. Initially starting as a series of fantasy role-playing video games, the franchise has expanded into various genres including tactical role-playing, action role-playing, massively multiplayer online role-playing, racing, third-person shooter, fighting, and rhythm. It has also explored other forms of media such as films, anime, manga, and novels. Each installment of the series stands alone with its unique settings, plots, and characters, yet they are interconnected by recurring elements including game mechanics and character names. The franchise is renowned for its innovative gameplay, stunning visuals, and music, predominantly composed by Nobuo Uematsu. With more than 185 million copies sold worldwide, Final Fantasy has not only popularized numerous features in role-playing games but also promoted the genre in markets outside Japan.