Sadly, there is only in front or behind an object.
What I do in these cases is
- split up the object in several images with different object centers or
- create two images of the object, one with a hole where the part of the character should be visible, make two objects of it and change objects when needed or
- make the object part of the characters image (and change outfits) (or like you have in mind, cut the character)
depending what works best / is easiest in each case