Super Xuxa Against the Down Mood

When television presenter Xuxa urges children to believe in a happier world, an unhappy spirit named Baixo Astral, who lives beneath the city, decides to put an end to that optimism. Angry and clever, he plots to spread gloom, and with henchmen Titica and Morcegão he snatches Xuxo, Xuxa's beloved dog. Refusing to back down, Xuxa teams up with Xixa, a whimsical gypsy caterpillar, and Rafa, a rebellious teen, to track the kidnappers, outwit creatures of the sewer, and protect kids from Baixo Astral's gloom. The film mixes song, slapstick and fantasy as Xuxa moves through colorful sets and encounters obstacles aimed at dampening joy.

Released in 1988, the film was directed by Anna Penido and David Sonnenschein and stars Xuxa in the title role, with Guilherme Karan as Baixo Astral and Jonas Torres as Rafa. It came during Xuxa's peak as a multimedia children's entertainer in Brazil.

Specific box office totals aren't widely published internationally, though the movie was part of Xuxa's string of family films that performed well with Brazilian audiences at the time. Contemporary reporting emphasizes its popularity among children rather than global commercial figures.

The movie reinforced Xuxa's celebrity status in Brazil, cementing Baixo Astral as an iconic villain kids would recognize. Its songs, costumes and larger than life sets fed into 1980s pop culture blast of Xuxa-branded music, television and merchandise, making scenes and characters familiar to a generation of Brazilian youngsters.

Critical response was mixed, reflected in a modest average rating around 5.1 out of 10. Reviewers tended to praise the production's energy and appeal to kids while noting a thin plot and campy tone. The film leans into themes of optimism versus negativity, the power of friendship, and the importance of imagination, all wrapped in musical numbers and family-friendly fantasy aimed squarely at young viewers.