The original will help tremendously in getting accustomed to the universe and mythos, but watch it in the condensed movie trilogy version; trust me, it's better. And it's still long. But it sets you up for Zeta nicely.
Wiki's being unclear about which movies constitute the "condensed trilogy." Does it start with Char's Counterattack?
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBpfwpOPXNc&NR=1&feature=fvwp
I watch Planet Chasers Starlight Excellent all day, every day.