The character is going in a new direction, to be followed, a number of frames later, by his clothes in the new direction. In features, this type of action is done more subtly. Long hair and animal tail will also be handled in the same manner. Timing becomes critical to the effectiveness of drag and the overlapping action. As action starts, we have more drawings near the starting pose, one or two in the middle, and more drawings near the next pose.
Fewer drawings make the action faster and more drawings make the action slower.
This will give more snap to the scene. This is especially true of the human figure and the action of animals. Arcs give animation a more natural action and better flow. Think of natural movements in the terms of a pendulum swinging. All arm movement, head turns and even eye movements are executed on an arcs.