He could be late for an appointment and is stressed about it, that's why he's looking at the clock. Or perhaps it's just part of the story and has some symbolic meaning.
Maybe it's waiting for a specific time or event to happen.
Maybe the cat is waiting for something important and is keeping an eye on the time.
It might be that the cartoon boy is looking at the clock to see if it's time for a favorite show or to know when he can play. Maybe he's trying to keep track of how long he has to do a chore.
Maybe the character is waiting for something important and time is running out.
It could be that the designer wanted to give the clock a sense of movement or direction. Or perhaps it's related to the theme or story the cartoon is trying to convey.
Maybe they have an important appointment or event coming up and are worried about being late.
Maybe the cartoon heart has an important appointment and is worried about being late.
She could be worried because she has a deadline coming up and the time on the clock is making her anxious. Or perhaps she's waiting for someone and the clock is showing that they might be late.
Maybe he's lost in thought or feeling sad.
Maybe he saw something interesting behind him.