is a character in the Final Fantasy role-playing video game series by Square Enix (originally Square), first introduced as a non-player character in Final Fantasy VII (1997). Zack later appears in the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII works Before Crisis, Last Order, Advent Children and, most prominently, Crisis Core, a prequel to the original game of which he is the main character, and which expands greatly on his backstory.
Although Zack is already dead at the start of Final Fantasy VII, is rarely mentioned and only appears late into the story via flashbacks, he is a crucial part of the game's story, as Cloud Strife, the main character, unknowingly confused parts of his own past with Zack's following traumatic events involving the two and Sephiroth; while Cloud originally believes himself to be a member of the paramilitary organization SOLDIER, the military wing of the megacorporation Shinra, that story was in fact that of Zack, with Cloud being his friend and a regular soldier. Zack died in the weeks leading up to the opening of Final Fantasy VII, to protect Cloud from Shinra's army after they had escaped from imprisonment; a mentally shaken Cloud's memories of the events were heavily affected, and he forgot Zack entirely.
Zack was not originally a part of Final Fantasy VIIs story during development, but scenario writer Kazushige Nojima wanted to bring a sense of mystery to the title, and created the character to help complicate Cloud's backstory. He was designed by Tetsuya Nomura, and his last name is derived from "fair weather", to contrast with Cloud's last name, Strife. With Zack's conceptual backstory in place for Final Fantasy VII, the staff decided to use Compilation of Final Fantasy VII to expand upon his character. Zack is voiced by Kenichi Suzumura in Japanese and Rick Gomez in English works prior to Final Fantasy VII Remake, in which he is voiced by Caleb Pierce. Suzumura was chosen specifically by Nomura for his voice, and was given the role without an audition. Western critics have praised Zack's character, commenting on his development since Final Fantasy VII.
Concept and creation
Zack did not exist in the original scenario of Final Fantasy VII, but was created only when scenario writer Kazushige Nojima decided to add some mystery to the plot, most notably in relation to Cloud Strife's background. Nojima had always planned for Cloud Strife's memories of his life to be proven false as the game went on, but he had not decided on how to implement this until he hit on the character of Zack. Nojima also used Zack to link Cloud and Aerith Gainsborough, as Aerith had seen something of Zack in Cloud. Zack was the first person Aerith loved, thus creating an emotional connection between herself and Cloud, because he reminds her of him. Originally, the role of her first love was to have been fulfilled by the game's antagonist Sephiroth. As the game continued in its development, Nojima worked out the mysteries regarding Zack and Cloud, which led to some of the scenes in the game needing revision. Director Yoshinori Kitase was surprised by the revelation of Cloud's and Zack's connection, as until the later stages of development, even he did not know about Zack. Character designer Tetsuya Nomura got the request to design Zack when Final Fantasy VII was reaching the end of development. Prior to the late addition of Zack, Nojima had asked the staff to add details to some scenes so as to give clues about him, despite the fact that he did not reveal to the staff Zack's existence until later. Although Zack is linked with Cloud due to multiple parallels, his personality was based on Final Fantasy X protagonist Tidus as both are rarely bothered by their own thoughts and are generally cheerful when compared with Cloud according to Nojima.
For Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, Zack made only a couple of brief appearances, and as such, was not difficult to animate; the team had also acquired his design early in production, allowing modeling of his character to be taken care of. Nomura had wanted Zack to have a "nice, upbeat voice", which influenced his decision to cast Kenichi Suzumura. Beforehand, Nomura had had dinner with Suzumura, where he had decided that "at that point [Nomura] wanted him to be in one of his projects if the opportunity ever presented itself". Suzumura was offered the role without an audition. Nomura explained that, because Zack had been chosen to be the lead in Last Order: Final Fantasy VII, he needed "someone who could handle [the] role well". The staff used Last Order as an opportunity to portray Zack "properly" as a "handsome, light-hearted man [who] was in everyone's memory". In English, Zack is voiced by Rick Gomez.