History Main / ShippedInShackles

* In the ''Comicbook/SpiderMan'' "Comicbook/MaximumCarnage" storyline Cletus Cassidy was being transported via the chained-to-hand-cart method. Unfortunately for the guards his [[TheSymbiote symbiote]] chose that moment to re-awaken.

[[caption-width-right:350:The only way to travel.]]

Sure, you can build a fancy TailorMadePrison for when your OmnicidalManiac is hidden away, but what happens when you have to ''move'' the little bastard? He can't be thrown in the back seat of a black-and-white with just a uniformed officer for supervision. No, he's got to be shipped in shackles.

This trope is about taking extreme measures to secure a prisoner and/or their intended route during transport. Simple handcuffs and a couple of escorts won't suffice. This is when the guards feel they must chain the prisoner hand and foot, wrap him in a straightjacket, secure him to a hand truck, give him a [[Film/TheSilenceOfTheLambs Hannibal mask]], cart him around in an armored vehicle full of strapping young guards toting high-caliber weapons, or all of the above. If he has superpowers, expect the guards' weapons to be loaded with the appropriate KryptoniteFactor, and/or the shackles to be [[PowerNullifier specially made to negate his powers]]. If he's a ManipulativeBastard notorious for talking his way out of being captured, he may even be gagged.

This may be to prevent the prisoner's allies on the outside from pulling off a daring rescue during transit or to keep him from contacting such allies, but more likely it serves the same purpose as a stationary oubliette: to show the audience that this guy is a OneManArmy so tough that it takes a quarter-ton of purpose-built restraints to hold him, or so [[OmnicidalManiac dangerous]] that his captors want to ensure that the odds of him escaping are exactly zero.

Of course, these restraints prove ineffective as often as not, especially since most villains realize that escaping from a few measly chains while under constant armed surveillance is still easier than getting out of their usual prison cell.

* ''Film/AssaultOnPrecinct131976''. Napoleon Wilson (who is said to have killed six people [[CrypticBackgroundReference for reasons that are never revealed]]) is shackled for the ride on the prison bus taking him to Death Row, and the Warden trips him up just to KickTheDog. A few minutes later Wilson returns the favor by tripping up the Warden with his chain. This contrasts the end of the movie when Lieutenant Bishop refuses to allow Wilson to be handcuffed again, and [[FireForgedFriends insists they walk out of Precinct 13 together]].

* ''Franchise/StarWars'': Han Solo was [[AndIMustScream frozen in carbonite]] following his capture by Boba Fett in ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'' to be transported to Jabba the Hutt. Fett didn't like the risk to Solo's life (and, thus, his bounty), but Vader was willing to write him a compensation check if Han died. Unlike most examples it wasn't done because Han himself was too dangerous; the point of the exercise was to test the method for later use on Luke. However Series/TheMandolorian is later shown to have a carbonite-freezer in his spacecraft, so it appears the bounty-hunting fraternity thought Vader had come up with a good idea.

* ''Franchise/StarWars'': Han Solo was [[AndIMustScream frozen in carbonite]] following his capture by Boba Fett in ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'' to be transported to Jabba the Hutt. Fett didn't like the risk to Solo's life (and, thus, his bounty), but Vader was willing to write him a compensation check if Han died. Unlike most examples, it wasn't done because Han himself was too dangerous; the point of the exercise was to test the method for later use on Luke.

* ''Series/Daredevil2015''. Frank Castle is transported this way to the courtroom. Even when he's in hospital there are excessive precautions--an entire floor of the hospital is blocked off for him, guarded by ESU officers with carbines, bags have to be searched twice to be absolutely certain no one's smuggling in a weapon, and there's a "do not cross" line around his bed marked with red tape, to which bed Castle is both strapped and shackled.

* This happens to [[spoiler:Baek San and [[WellIntentionedExtremist Sa-Woo]]]] toward the end of the Korean drama ''Series/Iris2009''. [[spoiler:It doesn't work.]]

* This happens to [[spoiler:[[MagnificentBastard Baek San]] and [[WellIntentionedExtremist Sa-Woo]]]] toward the end of the Korean drama ''Series/{{Iris}}''. [[spoiler:It doesn't work.]]

* ComicBook/TheJoker is a frequent candidate for this treatment, with deliberate parallels to Lector. In the opening of ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'' he is wrapped in a straitjacket and chained to a hand-truck for delivery to the asylum. The guards seem to [[TalkativeLoon wish he was gagged as well]]. [[spoiler:Batman later gets the same treatment in a fear-gas induced hallucination.]]
* At the start of ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'', you and the rest of your party are all shackled in a cart, being taken to your execution.
* ''VideoGame/StarWasTheForceUnleashed 2'': In the Light Side Ending, the [[spoiler:Heroes]] transport a captive in an upright frame that appears to be six-inches thick solid durasteel. Probably justified, given that the captive is [[spoiler:Darth Vader]].
* Lena from ''VisualNovel/MissingStars'' is apparently a nice girl but is always muzzled up. It's very unlikely to be for show either, considering her university is for kids who are mentally ill. Lena is otherwise unrestrained besides the muzzle.

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* The condemned contestants arrive this way in ''Webcomic/LastRes0rt'' (Some leg irons might have been a good idea in Slick's case!)
** Daisy is even brought in strapped to a wheelchair, though at least part of that is thanks to her missing leg...
* In ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', the Empire of Blood transports its arena champion [[spoiler: (Thog)]] [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0786.html in this manner.]]
* On her first appearance in ''Webcomic/SkinHorse'', Tigerlily Jones is wrapped in a straitjacket and strapped to a handcart.

* ''[[VideoGame/TheForceUnleashed Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2]]'': In the [[spoiler:Light Side Ending]], the [[spoiler:Heroes]] transport a captive in an upright frame that appears to be six-inches thick solid durasteel. Probably justified, given that the captive is [[spoiler:Darth freaking Vader!]]
** [[spoiler:FridgeLogic suggests that however sturdy those restraints might be, however, they won't be enough to hold Vader, given the sort of telekinetic power he's demonstrated to be capable of bringing to bear in even the movies, let alone the things he does in the game's climactic battle immediately prior. It seems likely that Vader is biding his time and allowing himself to be 'captured,' since they didn't seem to cage a Ysalamiri anywhere nearby.]]

* In ''[[VideoGame/TheForceUnleashed Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2]]'', this is taken UpToEleven when, in the [[spoiler:Light Side Ending]], the [[spoiler:Heroes]] are transporting a captive in an upright frame that appears to be six-inches thick solid durasteel. Probably justified, given that the captive is [[spoiler:Darth freaking Vader!]]

* A case of being literally shipped is in ''Film/{{Thirteen}}'', when a contestant in the DeadlyGame is shackled and [[HumanMail sent in a crate]] from a Mexican prison. He's shackled not because he's dangerous but because he ''really'' didn't volunteer for this.

* ''Franchise/StarWars'': Han Solo was [[AndIMustScream frozen in carbonite]] following his capture by Boba Fett in ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'' to be transported to Jabba the Hutt. Fett didn't like the risk to Solo's life (and, thus, his bounty), but Vader was willing to write him a compensation check if Han died. The whole procedure was justified a trial run to make sure Vader could freeze Luke Skywalker, who would turn out to be dangerous cargo otherwise.

** In "[[Recap/TotalDramaNoPainNoGame No Pain, No Game]]", when Eva is voted off for the second time, and on the day she returned no less, she becomes very hostile and has to be tied in a straitjacket before she can be shipped off on the Boat of Losers.

** Clucky is wheeled off tied to a trolley and with a mask over her beak in "[[Recap/TotalDramaILoveYouILoveYouKnots I Love You, I Love You Knots]]".

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
** In "Marge vs. the Monorail", C. Montgomery Burns was given the Hannibal Mask treatment once when he was dragged into court for illegally dumping radioactive waste around the city.
** So was Bart when he was accused of stealing the church collection money on season six's "Bart's Girlfriend." Marge even lampshaded how excessive the punishment was.
* Muzzle from ''WesternAnimation/RoadRovers'' was kept restrained exactly like Hannibal, complete with a muzzle. And he was one of the good guys! See the [[WesternAnimation/RoadRovers page image for the series]].
* In ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'', Decepticon prisoners are usually transported in stasis cuffs (which paralyze the prisoner from the neck down) and gags. The handcart makes an appearance for [[spoiler: Megatron]], not due to being dangerous, but because [[spoiler: Optimus beat him so badly he couldn't walk.]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' the police nab the Tattletale Strangler (for littering, of course) and proceed to wrap him in several miles of handcuffs, chains, manacles, and even eye-cuffs. All of which he slithers out of about five seconds later. "Not again!"

* Drake Darkstar, WesternAnimation/DuckDodgers' EvilTwin, in the episode "Detained Duck", is transferred to the Shirley Temple Black maximum security space prison in an enclosed barrel with futuristic shackles. It doesn't stop him from escaping.
** After switching clothes with Duck Dodgers, a later scene shows him trying to convince the warden that he's not Drake Darkstar, while he is seen in [[Film/SilenceOfTheLambs a Straitjacket, muzzle, and chained up to a dolly like Hannibal.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'': When the Joker is taken into custody at the end of "Game Over for Owlman!", he is strapped to a trolley with a mask over his face ''a la'' Hannibal Lecter in ''Film/SilenceOfTheLambs''.

* Lecter-expy Garland Green (Steve Buscemi) in ''Film/ConAir'' was introduced wearing similar restraints as Lecter. When he's taken onto the plane, there's trepidation among at least one of the other criminals about actually taking them off.

* A case of being literally shipped is in ''13'', when a contestant in the DeadlyGame is shackled and [[HumanMail sent in a crate]] from a Mexican prison. He's shackled not because he's dangerous but because he ''really'' didn't volunteer for this.

* In ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'', at the beginning of the game, when Ulfric Stormcloak is captured, he has a gag over his mouth to prevent him from using [[MakeMeWannaShout the Thu'um.]]
** You are in the same party cart, not gagged (since no one, you included, yet knows about your great thu'um capabilities) but shackled nonetheless. Its destination is the closest execution ground.

* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': When Diana and the Holliday Girls recapture the four villains who managed to escape from Reformation Island they send the first two back bound hand and foot. The latter two are bound in Diana's magic lasso and escorted by the princess herself.

This trope is about taking extreme measures to secure a prisoner and/or their intended route during transport. Simple handcuffs and couple of escorts won't suffice. This is when the guards feel they must chain the prisoner hand and foot, wrap him in a straightjacket, secure him to a hand truck, give him a [[Film/TheSilenceOfTheLambs Hannibal mask]], cart him around in an armored vehicle full of strapping young guards toting high-caliber weapons, or all of the above. If he has superpowers, expect the guards' weapons to be loaded with the appropriate KryptoniteFactor, and/or the shackles to be [[PowerNullifier specially made to negate his powers]]. If he's a ManipulativeBastard notorious for talking his way out of being captured, he may even be gagged.

This may be to prevent the prisoner's allies on the outside from pulling off a daring rescue during transit, or to keep him from contacting such allies, but more likely it serves the same purpose as a stationary oubliette: to show the audience that this guy is a OneManArmy so tough that it takes a quarter-ton of purpose-built restraints to hold him, or so [[OmnicidalManiac dangerous]] that his captors want to ensure that the odds of him escaping are exactly zero.

[[folder:{{Anime}} & {{Manga}}]]
* ''Manga/InuYasha'': When Naraku first introduces [[TheBrute Juromaru]], he's in a iron cage and despite looking like a white-haired {{Bishonen}} wearing expansive clothes he's wrapped in chains and has a iron mask covering his face. As soon as he removes the chains and mask to have him fight the heroes at his top, Juromaru promptly beheads Naraku's golem, showing off why he was chained up.

* ''Manga/SamuraiDeeperKyo'': the four [[IAmAHumanitarian Berserkers]] of the [[QuirkyMinibossSquad Twelve Heavenly Generals]] are so violent and ferocious that they are costantly chained up into an underground cell when not needed. In fact, as soon as the chains are removed they promptly devour their own jailers. They only fully remove their apparel and chains when engaged in combat with their enemies.

[[folder:ComicBooks]]

* In several issues of ''Comicbook/{{Daredevil}}'', Bullseye is shown being transported in this fashion, with his hands bound to the point that he couldn't grab anything if he wanted to, and his feet bound so close that he can barely walk. Later issues (after he'd demonstrated he retained the ability to kill guards even bound up like that) showed him with bound hands, feet, a muzzle over his face, and tightly bound to a furniture-mover's hand cart.

* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': When Diana and the Holliday Girls recapture the four villains who managed to escape from Reformation Island they send the first two back bound hand and foot. The later two are bound in Diana's magic lasso and escorted by the princess herself.

[[folder:{{Film}}]]

* ''Franchise/StarWars'': Han Solo was [[AndIMustScream frozen in carbonite]] following his capture by Boba Fett in ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'' to be transported to Jabba the Hutt. Fett didn't like the risk to Solo's life (and, thus, his bounty), but Vader was willing to write him a compensation check if Han died. The whole procedure was justified a trial-run to make sure Vader could freeze Luke Skywalker, who would turn out to be dangerous cargo otherwise.

* In ''Film/{{Primal}}'', Richard Loffler arrives at the ship shackled hand and foot (like the page image). On board the ship, he is locked in a cage in the hold, and chained to a chair that is welded to the floor.

[[folder:{{Literature}}]]

[[folder:LiveActionTV]]
* Played straight and subverted in ''Series/PrisonBreak''. Linc is usually moved around like this, but sometime subverted when the guards go easy on the shackles because he's a good prisoner/they want him to break out.

[[folder:{{Music}}]]

[[folder: ProfessionalWrestling]]

[[folder:VideoGames]]

[[folder:WebComics]]

[[folder:WesternAnimation]]

* An episode of the original ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' opened with Killer Croc being transported to prison with his arms and legs in shackles. He escapes by biting through the chains and uses their remains as evidence that he was a prisoner in a freak show. After Batman recaptures him he is taken away chained, straight jacketed and muzzled.

* Drake Darkstar, WesternAnimation/DuckDodgers' EvilTwin, in the episode "Detained Duck", is transfered to the Shirley Temple Black maximum security space prison in an enclosed barrel with futuristic shackles. It doesn't stop him from escaping.

** ''Film/TheAvengers2012'': At the end, Loki is shown in chains for his transport back to Asgard, in addition to a muzzle.

* ''Film/TheAvengers2012'': At the end, Loki is shown in chains for his transport back to Asgard, in addition to a muzzle.
* Loki in ''Film/ThorTheDarkWorld'' is escorted to his trial in heavy handcuffs, legcuffs and a metal collar interconnected with chains that are also wrapped around his waist, and is accompanied by ''ten'' Einherjar, elite Asgardian warriors holding those chains. With the God of Mischief who [[Film/TheAvengers2012 has just tried]] to conquer Earth, you can't be too sure.
* ''Film/AvengersEndgame'': [[spoiler:When the team uses time travel to go back to [[Film/TheAvengers2012 2012]], we see exactly when Loki was shackled. Thor put the muzzle on him simply because he would ''not'' shut up]].