The Vanishing Private

The Vanishing Private is a Donald Duck short that was released on September 25, 1942.

Synopsis
Private Donald Duck is at work painting a cannon. Sergeant Pete denounces Donald's work as substandard and demands that "you are to paint it so that I cannot see it". While going to the supply depot for more paint, Donald finds an experimental invisble paint and decides to use that to make sure that he follows the letter of Pete's orders. Pete returns, thinking that Donald somehow stole the cannon only to bump into the invisible cannon. Pete shouts for Donald to show himself, and Donald appears in midair, finishing up the painting. Pete knocks Donald into the bucket of invisble paint, rendering Donald invisible. Donald thinks his invisibility is a chance for freedom, but Pete pursues Donald through a lake and a flower patch. Pete then decides to hunt Donald with grenades, attracting the attention of the General, who thinks Pete has lost his mind attacking imaginary enemies. The General attempts to restrain Pete and get him to exert some self-control, but Pete breaks free and drops a grenade, then the destroyed hats of Pete and the General are seen flying in the air.

Pete has been remanded to the brig and is seen bandaged and in a strait jacket. His jailer is Donald, who is now reassigned to guard duty and is once again visible as the invisible paint wore off. Pete grouses with Donald to "go tell the General I ain't crazy" to which Donald remarks "Are you suggesting I am crazy?"

Characters

 * Donald Duck
 * Pete
 * The General

Home video releases
VHS
 * Walt Disney Cartoon Classics: Limited Gold Editions: An Officer and a Duck

DVD
 * Walt Disney Treasures: On the Front Lines
 * Walt Disney Treasures: The Chronological Donald, Volume 2

Trivia

 * This is one of the few cartoons in which Donald does not lose his temper.
 * Donald's singing of Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush is based on the 1933 Universal horror film The Invisible Man, where at one point in the film, Dr. Griffin, the titular Invisible Man (played by Claude Raines), terrorizes various villagers from Sussex and at one point is shown skipping and singing Here We Go Gathering Nuts in May, which uses the same tune.